UC-NRLF 


*B    2^7    ObS 


GIFT  OF 
Dr#  Horace  Ivie 


THE   SNOW  FORTRESS. 


THE  YOUNG  AMERICAN'S  LIBRARY. 


LIFE 


or 


NAPOLEON    BONAPARTE, 


EMPEROR  OF  THE  FRENCH, 


CONTAINING 


NUMEROUS  ANECDOTES  OF  HIS  COURT  AND  TIMES. 


fljitjr  Siluttttiiii, 


IWWWWWWWW 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LINDSAY   &  BLAKISTON. 


•         GIFTOF 


•  S-v —    •  .  •  *■*► 


Entered,  acoordmg  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845,  by 

LINDSAY  &  BLAKISTON 

the  clerk'?  office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the 
Eastern  District  of  Pennsylvania. 


EDUCATION  Otn 


PREFACE. 

Perhaps  the  wide  compass  of  ancient  and 
modern  history  does  not  present  to  our  view 
a  man  more  eminent  than  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte. The  world  has  scarcely  yet  settled 
down  in  quietness,  from  the  convulsive  agita- 
tions produced  by  his  vast  ambition  and 
military  enterprises.  It  is  essential,  therefore, 
that  every  person  who  has  the  least  pretension 
to  historical  information,  should  make  himself 
acquainted  with  all  the  important  facts  in  the 
life  of  so  prominent  a  Captain ;  and  as  it 
cannot  be  expected  that  the  youthful  reader 
can  have  the  means  or  the  disposition  to 
study  the  voluminous  works  wherein  the 
subject  is  elaborately  treated,  the  American 
publisher  hopes  that  he  will  render  an  accept- 
able service  in  presenting  this  general  outline, 
with  the  view  of  introducing  the  subject  to 
the  attention  of  juvenile  readers. 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  1844. 

'3) 

924203 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

Page 

Birth  and  Childhood  of  Napoleon 9 

CHAPTER  II. 
Commencement  of  Napoleon's  military  career 16 

CHAPTER  IIL 
Siege  and  Taking  of  Toulon i9 

CHAPTER  IV. 
First  Marriage  of  Bonaparte 24 

CHAPTER  V. 
Commencement  of  the  first  Campaign  in  Italy 30 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Conclusion  of  first  Campaign  in  Italy. — Bonaparte  sails 
for  Egypt 34 

CHAPTER  VII. 
Anecdotes  of  the  first  Campaign  in  Italy 45 

CHAPTER  VIII. 
Conquest  of  Egypt 53 

15) 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  IX. 
The  Eighteenth  Brumaire 74 

CHAPTER   X 
The  Consulate 77 

CHAPTER  XI. 
Anecdotes  of  the  Egyptian  and  Italian  Campaigns, — and 
of  the  Consulate 91 

CHAPTER  XII. 

From   the  Accession  of  Napoleon  to  the  Throne  to  the 
Battle  of  Trafalgar 120 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
From  the  Battle  of  Trafalgar  to  the  Occupation  of  Spain. .  125 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Anecdotes 137 

CHAPTER  XV. 
From  the  Interview  of  Erfurt  to  the  Russian  War 157 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

From  the  Commencement  of  the  Russian  Campaign  to  the 
Abdication  of  Napoleon  at  Fontainbleau 167 

CHAPTER  XVII. 
The  restoration  of  Louis  Eighteenth. — The  Hundred  Pays  190 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Captivity  and  Death  of  Napoleon 219 


HISTORY   OF    NAPOLEON 


»  ...       , 


CHAPTER   I.        '    ':-' 


BIRTH    AND    CHILDHOOD    OF    NAPOLEON, 


APOLEON  was  born  at  Ajaccio,  a 
town  of  Corsica,  on  the  15th  of  Au- 
gust, 1769.  The  name  had  formerly 
been  written  Buonaparte,  but  during 
his  first  campaign  in  Italy,  he  dropped 
the  "  u."  In  this  change  he  had  no 
other  motives  than  to  assimilate  the  orthography  to 
the  pronunciation,  and  to  abbreviate  his  signature 
His  father,  Charles  Marie  Buonaparte,  had,  in  the 
year  1767,  quitted  the  gown  for  the  sword;  and 
under  the  standard  of  the  celebrated  General  Paoli 
(who  was  godfather  to  his  son  Joseph),  had  fought 
bravely,  though  unsuccessfully,  for  the  liberties  of 
his  country. 

While  the  struggle  continued,  Madame  Buona- 
parte, the  wife  of  Carolo,  was  constantly  flying 

(7^ 


BIRTH    OF    NAPOLEON. 


from  town  to  town,  and  from  village  to  village,  to 
avoid  the  French  ;  dreading  nothing  so  much  as 
falling  into  their  hands.  After  repeated  changes 
of  place,  she  was,  two  months  after  the  Corsicans 
had  given  up  the  contest,  delivered  of  her  second 
son,  to  whom  the  name  of  Napoleon  was  given, 
after  the  saint,  on  K  hose  festival  he  was  baptized. 
The  16th  of  August;  the  day  of  his  baptism,  was 
the  f/svkal  of  St.  Napoleon,  a  saint  then  peculiar 
to  Corsica. 

Some  writers,  during  his  consulship,  and  upon 
the  eve  of  the  re-establishment  of  Monarchy,  were 
willing  to  furnish  him  with  a  genealogy,  and  found 
a  relationship  for  him  among  the  ancient  kings  of 
the  North.  But  the  soldier,  aware  the  success  of 
the  revolution  depended  upon  himself,  and  recollect- 
ing that,  under  the  reign  of  equality,  he  had  risen 
through  the  inferior  grades,  to  a  supreme  rank  in 
the  army  solely  by  his  own  merit,  replied,  that  his 
nobility  rested  upon  the  services  he  had  done  his 
country,  and  those  he  dated  from  the  battle  of 
Montenotte. 

The  father  of  Napoleon  had  been  educated  at 
Pisa  and  Rome.  He  was  a  man  of  learning  and 
ability,  who  displayed  much  zeal  and  energy  in 
several  very  important  circumstances,  particularly 
during  the  debate  at  Corsica  relative  to  the  subjec- 
tion of  that  island  to  the  crown  of  France.  Charles 
Bonaparte  appeared  shortly  afterwards  at  Versailles, 
at  the  head  of  a  deputation  from  his  province,  on 


NAPOLEON    THE    HEAD    OF    HIS    FAMILY.  9 

the  occasion  of  the  differences  which  had  arisen, 
between  the  two  French  generals  who  commanded 
in  Corsica,  M.de  Marbeuf  and  M.deNarbonnePelez. 

The  credit  of  the  latter,  so  powerful  at  court, 
was  partly  frustrated,  by  the  frank  and  fearless  evi- 
dence of  Charles  Bonaparte,  who  faithfully  leaning 
to  truth  and  justice,  pleaded  eloquently  for  M.  de 
Marbeuf. 

This  was  the  origin  and  sole  cause  of  the  pro- 
tection which  this  gentleman  afterwards  afforded 
the  Bonaparte  family. 

Though  Napoleon  was  but  the  second  son  of 
Charles  Bonaparte,  he  was  always  considered  as 
the  chief  of  the  family.  His  grand-uncle  the  Arch- 
deacon Lucien,  who  had  been  the  guide  and  support 
of  all  his  relations,  gave  him  this  title  upon  his  death- 
bed, and  charged  his  elder  brother  Joseph  not  to 
forget  it;  this,  as  Napoleon  afterwards  observed, 
was  "  a  true  disinheritage,  the  scene  of  Jacob  and 
Esau." 

He  acquired  this  remarkable  distinction,  from  his 
grave  and  reflective  character,  and  the  right  sense 
of  reason  which  he  displayed  at  a  very  early  age. 

Placed  in  1777,  at  the  military  school  of  Brienne, 
he  there  applied  himself  wholly  to  the  study  of  his- 
tory, geography,  and  mathematics.  He  there  had 
Pichegru  for  a  tutor,  and  M.  de  Bourrienne  for  his 
comrade.  He  was  totally  absorbed  in  the  mathe- 
matics, and  his  taste  for  politics  was,  even  then, 
verv  remarkable.     Interested  for  the  independence 


10  CHARACTER    AT    SCHOOL. 

of  his  country,  he  showed  a  kind  of  worship  for 
Paoli,  whom  he  defended  with  some  energy  against 
the  contrary  opinion  of  his  father. 

It  has  been  often  asserted,  though  with  little  truth, 
that  while  at  college  he  was  solitary  and  taciturn, 
and  without  a  friend.  Neither  is  it  more  true  what 
M.  de  Bourrienne,  a  discarded  favourite,  has  said 
of  him,  that  he  was  "rough  in  his  manners  and  pos- 
sessed of  little  amiability"  It  was  his  precocious 
gravity,  and  his  severe  and  brusque  manner  which 
caused  them  to  accuse  him  of  misanthropy  and  se- 
cretiveness  of  soul.  Napoleon  was  on  the  contrary, 
naturally  mild  and  affectionate.  It  was  not  till  he 
arrived  at  maturity,  that  he  manifested  any  change 
in  his  character :  so  at  least  he  says,  speaking  of 
nimself,  in  his  dictations  at  St.  Helena. 

We  are  told  also,  that  his  love  of  solitude,  and 
his  preference,  (as  exclusive  as  precocious)  for  the 
military  art,  caused  him  in  some  measure  to  confine 
himself  to  his  garden,  and  there  fortify  himself  against 
the  intrusion  of  his  fellow-students.  One  of  his 
schoolfellows  has  undertaken  to  disprove  this  story, 
and  relate  the  fact;  it  is  the  famous  anecdote  of  the 
fortress  built  of  snow,  and  its  siege  and  defence  with 
snow-balls. 

"  In  the  winter  1783-4,"  says  he,  "  so  memorable 
by  the  quantity  of  snow  which  fell,  and  accumulated 
upon  the  roads,  Napoleon  was  prevented  from  work- 
ing in  his  little  garden ;  which  afforded  him  the  only 
amusement  he  then  enjoyed. 


SNOW    FORTRESS.  11 

In  his  hours  of  relaxation,  he  was  therefore  forced 
to  mingle  with  his  comrades,  in  their  common  pas- 
times, that  of  promenading  an  immense  hall.  To 
escape  from  this  monotony,  Napoleon  bestirred  the 
whole  school,  and  soon  made  them  aware  how  much 
better  they  could  amuse  themselves,  if  they  would 
get  some  shovels  and  open  different  passages  through 
the  snow,  build  some  towers,  dig  some  trenches, 
raise  some  platforms,  &c.  "  When  that  is  done," 
said  he,  "  we  will  divide  ourselves  into  companies, 
and  commence  an  attack  upon  the  fortress,  and  as 
inventor  of  the  game,  I  install  myself  as  director 
of  the  attacking  party." 

"  The  joyous  troop  received  this  project  with  en- 
thusiasm ;  it  was  speedily  executed,  and  this  minia- 
ture warfare  was  continued  for  fifteen  days,  it  was 
then  interdicted  in  consequence  of  their  putting 
gravel  and  small  flints  into  their  snow-balls,  the 
result  was  that  several  scholars,  both  the  besiegers 
and  the  besieged,  were  seriously  hurt,  I  recall  this 
because  I  was  one  of  the  most  ill-used  by  this  unfair 
play."     (See  Frontispiece.} 

Thus  to  move  the  whole  school,  is  some  proof 
that  young  Bonaparte,  in  spite  of  his  habits  of  lonely 
meditation,  had  acquired  a  certain  influence  over 
the  mass  of  students,  and  that  he  had  not  shown  in 
his  relation  with  them  the  character  of  moroseness, 
roughness,  or  spite,  which  is  attributed  to  him,  upon 
the  authority  of  prejudiced,  or  ill-informed  biogra 
phies. 


12 


SENT    TO    PARIS. 


Not  only  did  he  enjoy  the  estimation  of  his  com- 
rades, but  he  also  possessed  in  a  high  degree,  that 
of  his  teachers ;  many  of  whom  have  since  pre- 
tended to  have  predicted  his  future  greatness.  M. 
de  l'Eguille,  his  master  of  history,  during  Napoleon's 
emperorship  found  in  the  archives  of  the  military 
school,  a  note  in  which  he  had  many  years  back 
appended  the  following  words  to  his  scholar's  name, 
"a  Corsican  by  birth  and  character,  he  will  do  much 
if  circumstances  favour  him." 

His  professor  of  belles-lettres,  in  which  he  occupied 
a  distinguished  rank  among  the  rhetoricians,  Do- 
mairon,  called  his  acquirements  "  flaming  granites 
poured  from  a  volcano." 

At  the  examination  of  1785,  he  was  selected  by 
the  Chevalier  de  Keralio  for  the  military  school  at 
Paris.  In  vain  the  officer  who  filled  the  situation 
of  Inspector,  complained  that  the  young  scholar 
was  not  of  the  requisite  age,  and  that  he  was  only 
studied  in  mathematics — "  I  know  what  I  do,"  said 
he,  "  if  I  here  overstep  the  rule,  it  is  not  to  favour 
his  family,  I  know  nothing  of  this  boy ;  it  is  on  his 
own  account,  I  perceive  a  spark  of  genius  here  that 
cannot  be  too  much  cultivated."  On  entering  this 
new  school,  Napoleon  was  not  long  in  expressing 
his  surprise  and  grief  at  the  education  which  was 
there  given  to  young  men  destined  for  the  camp 
and  the  laborious  profession  of  arms.  It  formed 
the  subject  of  a  note  which  he  addressed  to  the 
principal,  M.  Berton,  in  which  he  represented  "  that 


IN    SCHOOL    AT    PARIS.  13 

the  king's  scholars  being  all  poor  gentlemen  could 
not  afford  the  expensive  charges  of  the  establish- 
ment." He  proposed  to  curtail  the  number  of 
servants,  and  compel  the  students  to  groom  their 
own  horses.  "  Since  they  are  far  from  being  rich,*' 
said  he,  "  and  all  destined  for  the  military  service, 
ought  they  not  to  be  taught  this?  Accustomed  to  a 
sober  life,  they  will  become  more  robust,  better  able 
to  brave  the  inclemency  of  the  seasons,  support  with 
courage  the  fatigues  of  war,  and  inspire  the  soldiers 
under  them  with  respect  and  devotedness." 

Thus  Napoleon,  yet  a  lad,  threw  into  a  school 
address,  the  foundations  of  an  institution  that  he 
one  day  realized  in  his  power  of  Emperor.  Equally 
distinguished  at  Paris  as  he  had  been  at  Brienne, 
he  left  the  military  school  in  1787,  and  passed  as  a 
second  lieutenant  to  the  artillery  regiment  of  La  Fere 
then  in  garrison  at  Grenoble. 


It 


FRENCH    REVOLUTION. 


CHAPTER   II 


COMMENCEMENT    OF    NAPOLEON'S    MILITARY  CAREER. 


,  HE  French  Revolution  broke  out ;  all 
the  enlightened  youth  of  France  ap- 
plauded it  with  transport.  The  upper 
classes  were  infatuated  with  their  titles 
and  privileges,  and  many  of  these  were 
to  be  found  in  the  army,  who  did  not 
partake  of  the  popular  enthusiasm. 

Napoleon  strongly  entertaining  some  presenti- 
ments of  his  future  destiny,  followed  the  necessities 
of  the  time,  in  ardently  embracing  the  popular  party. 
But  in  this  extreme  patriotism,  he  still  nourished  in 
his  soul  an  instinctive  aversion  for  any  thing  that 
carried  with  it  the  shadow  of  anarchy,  and  joined 
with  indignation  in  the  turbulent  meetings  of  the 
multitude  to  decry  that  power  which  one  day  de- 
volved upon  himself.  On  the  20th  of  June,  1792, 
he  became  an  eye-witness  to  the  insurrection  at 
Paris.  Standing  upon  one  of  the  terraces  at  the 
Tuillenes  and  seeing  Louis  XVI.  crowned  with  the 
cap  of  liberty  by  one  of  the  mob,  he  cried,  after  a 
short  but  energetic  harangue :  "  How  came  thev  to 


THE    BONAPARTES    QUIT    CORSICA.  15 

suffer  this  canaille  to  enter?  they  should  ha\e  blown 
four  or  five  hundred  of  them  into  the  air,  and  the 
rest  would  have  taken  to  their  heels." 

This  is  to  be  considered  as  the  violent  outbreak 
of  a  soldier  indignant  at  the  military,  who  by 
promptitude  might  have  prevented  this  coarse  and 
disgusting  insult  from  befalling  their  sovereign. 
Shortly  afterwards,  upon  the  10th  of  August,  the 
Tuilleries  was  again  occupied  by  the  populace,  and 
the  disgraceful  scene  of  the  20th  of  June  was  again 
reacted.  Napoleon,  a  zealous  partizan  of  the  French 
Revolution,  but  at  the  same  time  strongly  regarding 
the  rules  of  order,  and  the  considerations  of  legiti- 
mate power,  left  Paris  in  disgust,  and  resided  again 
in  Corsica.  Paoli  was  at  that  time  intriguing  in 
that  island  in  favour  of  England.  The  young 
French  patriot  deeply  affected  at  such  conduct,  from 
that  moment  tore  from  his  affections,  the  idol  of  his 
youth.  He  took  a  command  in  the  national  guards, 
and  continued,  until  death,  his  hatred  for  the  old 
man  to  whom,  up  to  that  time,  he  had  shown  so 
much  respect,  sympathy,  and  admiration. 

Corsica  yielded  to  the  English  flag.  Ajaccio  was 
laid  in  ashes,  and  the  Bonaparte  family  after  see- 
ing their  house  pillaged,  and  converted  into  a  bar- 
rack for  the  English  troops,  took  refuge  in  France, 
and  established  themselves  at  Marseilles.  Napoleon 
did  not  stop  long  in  that  town,  but  hastened  his 
return  to  Paris,  where  the  events  succeeded  with 


16  NAPOLEON    AT    TOULON. 

such  violence  and  rapidity,  that  each  day  and  every 
hour  gave  the  signal  for  a  new  crisis. 

The  south  of  France  had  now  hoisted  the  stand- 
ard of  rebellion,  and  Toulon  had  been  treacherously 
delivered  to  the  English.  The  General  Cartaux 
was  charged  by  the  convention,  to  proceed  and  re- 
establish the  province  under  the  laws  of  the  repub- 
lic, to  secure  its  defeat,  and  to  punish  the  traitors 
and  rebels. 

As  soon  as  victory  had  brought  this  General  to 
Marseilles,  the  siege  of  Toulon  was  ordered.  Napo- 
leon accompanied  him  there  as  the  commander  of 
the  artillery.  It  was  about  this  time  that  he  pub- 
lished under  the  title  of  "  Souper  de  BcauQuin"  a 
small  composition  of  which  the  memorials  of  St. 
Helena  say  nothing,  but  which  M.  de  Bounienne 
declares  he  received  from  Bonaparte  himself  on  liiii 
return  from  Toulon. 


GENERAL    CARTAUX. 


17 


CHAPTER   III, 


SIEGE     AND     TAKING     OF    TOULON. 


OOKING  at  the  army  encamped  under 
the  walls  of  Toulon,  Napoleon  was  not 
long  in  perceiving  the  band  of  intrepid 
volunteers  within  its  ranks,  but  soon 
discovered  that  however  enthusiastic 
its  troops  may  have  been,  they  boasted 
not  one  chief  worthy  to  be  their  commander.  Gene- 
ral Cartaux,  who  affected  a  display  and  magnificence 
little  compatible  with  republican  principles,  had  yet 
more  ignorance  than  show.  The  conquest  of  Tou- 
lon was  a  task  much  beyond  the  power  of  his  forces, 
but  he  was  far  from  perceiving  their  disheartening 
incapacity,  on  the  contrary  he  gave  himself  credit 
for  possessing  those  powers  of  conception  and  exe 
cution,  which  are  particularly  in  request  in  any  en- 
terprise. It  was  this  ridiculous  confidence  in  him- 
self that  brought  forth  the  famous  plan,  that  pro- 
voked his  recall,  and  which  was  couched  in  these 
terms : 

"  The  General  of  artillery  shall  storm  Toulon  for 
♦hree  davs,  at  the  end  of  which,  I  will  attack  it 


18  INFLUENCE  OF  BONAPARTE. 

under  three  columns,  and  carry  it."  Happily  at  the 
side  of  this  singular  and  laconic  tactician,  there 
was  found  a  subaltern  officer,  as  much  his  superior 
by  his  science  and  talents,  as  he  was  inferior  to  him 
in  rank.  This  was  a  young  man  twenty-four  years 
of  age.  Although  both  simple  and  modest,  he  could 
not  conceal  the  contempt  that  he  felt  for  the  most 
part  of  the  men  that  the  government  and  discipline 
made  it  a  duty  for  him  to  regard  as  his  superiors, 
and  whose  folly  might  become  so  fatal  to  the  re- 
public. This  honourable  contempt  and  the  con- 
sciousness of  his  superiority  above  all  those  who 
surrounded  him,  encouraged  him  to  control  his 
chiefs  themselves,  most  of  whom  permitted  him  to 
execute  those  measures  he  thought  advantageous, 
without  contradiction.  During  one  of  his  daily 
quarrels  with  Cartaux,  he  once  heard  the  wife  of  the 
general-in-chief  say  to  her  husband,  "Let  the  young 
man  alone,  he  knows  more  about  it  than  you,  and 
as  you  are  the  responsible  person,  the  glory  he 
achieves,  will  still  be  yours." 

From  his  arrival  at  the  camp,  Napoleon  with  that 
prompt  and  sure  foresight,  which  so  invariably  ac- 
companied his  talents  upon  the  field  of  battle,  had 
perceived  that  for  the  recapture  of  Toulon,  it  was 
necessary  to  bring  the  aid  of  the  boats  to  the  at- 
tack, "  and,"  said  he,  pointing  to  a  spot  upon  the 
map,  "  here  lies  Toulon :  two  days  after  the  French 
troops  shall  have  gained  possession  of  this  fort,  the 
town  itself  will  belong  to  the  Republic."   But  a  long 


BONAPARTE  RECONQUERS  TOULON.        19 

interval  of  delay  succeeded  before  his  advice  was 
followed.  The  commander  alone  was  endowed 
with  a  military  genius,  and  this  support  from  an 
enlightened  officer,  could  not  overcome  the  stupid 
infatuation  of  the  general-in-chief.  However  there 
was  among  the  representatives  of  the  people,  a  man 
gifted  with  sufficient  penetration  and  perspicuity  to 
divine  and  foresee  the  great  captain  under  the  sim- 
ple garb  of  a  commander  of  artillery.  Napoleon 
was  entrusted  with  sufficient  power  to  secure  the 
success  of  his  plans ;  Cartaux  was  recalled,  the 
foreigner  driven  from  Toulon,  and  the  conqueror 
some  time  afterwards,  in  recalling  the  first  triumph, 
for  which  he  was  in  fact  indebted  to  the  confidence 
of  the  member  of  the  Convention,  said  with  grati- 
tude "  that  it  was  Gasparin  who  had  opened  his 
career." 

The  conquest  of  Toulon  due  to  young  Bonaparte, 
was  gained  without  having  recourse  to  any  of  those 
tricks  or  expedients  which  at  that  time  characterized 
the  operations  of  most  of  the  military  chiefs,  with 
the  sanction  of  the  commissioners  of  the  Convention. 

The  events  of  the  9th  Thermidor,  for  a  time  ar- 
rested Napoleon  in  the  career  which  he  had  com- 
menced with  so  much  glory  and  success.  Either 
his  connection  with  young  Robespierre  had  made 
him  suspected,  or  his  increasing  glory  had  induced 
his  enemies  to  seize  this  pretext  for  effecting  his 
destruction ;  be  it  as  it  might,  he  was  placed  under 
arrest,  by  order  of  Albitte,  Laporte,  and  Sallicetti, 


20 


NINTH    THERMIDOR. 


for  having  made  a  journey  to  Genoa,  the  object  of 
which  was  unknown  to  the  colleagues.  Declared 
unworthy  of  the  confidence  of  the  army,  and  dis- 
missed by  the  committee  of  public  safety,  General 
Bonaparte  did  not  quietly  put  up  with  that  dismissal 
and  accusation.  He  addressed  a  letter  immediately 
to  the  representatives  who  had  arrested  him,  in 
which  we  already  discover  the  haughty,  concise, 
and  energetic  style  that  is  so  frequently  and  easily 
recognized  in  all  his  subsequent  conversations  and 
writings. 

This  protest,  noble  and  elevated  in  its  simplicity, 
led  the  representatives  to  reflect  that  they  had  to  do 
with  a  man  of  high  capacity,  and  that  it  would  be, 
therefore,  hopeless  to  attempt  to  curb  him  by  arbi- 
trary persecution,  without  exposing  themselves  to  a 
protracted  and  vigorous  resistance.  Considering 
then  the  exigencies  of  the  moment,  and  warned  by 
the  suggestions  of  prudence,  Albitte  and  Sallicetti, 
together  with  General  Dumerbion,  revoked  provi- 
sionally their  arrest,  and  pronounced  the  liberation 
of  General  Bonaparte,  "  whose  military  and  local 
knowledge,"  they  said,  "  may  be  of  use  to  the  re- 
public." 

Meanwhile,  the  thermidorian  reaction  having 
delivered  the  direction  of  the  military  committee 
to  a  captain  of  artillery,  named  Aubry,  Napoleon 
was  suspended  from  his  command,  and  appointed 
General  of  infantry,  to  serve  in  La  Vendee.  In- 
dignant at  a  change  so  injurious,  and  little  disposed 


ALTERCATION    WITH    AUBRY.  Z 

to  devote  the  talent  he  was  conscious  of  possessing 
in  so  unworthy  a  service,  he  hastened,  on  arriving 
in  Paris,  to  tender  his  resignation  to  the  military 
committee,  where  he  failed  not  to  express  himself 
with  much  warmth  and  vehemence.  Aubry  was 
inflexible  ;  he  told  Napoleon  that  he  was  young,  and 
that  he  must  make  way  for  his  seniors,  to  which 
Napoleon  responded,  that  one  soon  became  old  on 
the  field  of  battle,  and  that  he  was  no  longer 
young.  The  president  of  the  committee  had  never 
seen  fire. 

But  this  repartee  was  more  calculated  to  ruffle 
the  choler  of  Aubry,  than  to  persuade  him.  He 
was  inflexible  in  his  determination,  and  the  young 
officer,  no  less  obstinate,  preferred  remaining  des- 
titute to  giving  way  to  injustice. 


t 


22 


BONAPARTE    SET    ASIDE. 


CHAPTER   IV. 


FIRST     MARRIAGE     OF     BONAPARTE 


T  is  curious  to  observe  the  future  dic- 
tator of  Europe  arrested  in  his  career, 
rendered  destitute,  and  struck  out  of 
the  list  of  French  generals  on  active 
service,  by  a  measure  signed  by  Mer- 
lin de  Douai,  Berlier,  Boissy-d'Anglas, 
and  Cambaceres,  men  who  one  day  vied  with  each 
other  in  their  zeal  to  obtain  a  smile  or  a  gesture 
of  approbation  from  the  young  officer  whom  they 
now  treated  with  so  little  consideration  and  regard. 
But  he  found  among  the  actors  of  the  Thermidor 
a  man  who  wished  not  to  let  those  military  talents 
that  Bonaparte  evinced  at  Toulon  lie  idle.  This 
was  Pontecoulant,  Aubry's  successor,  who  without 
risking  the  reproaches  of  the  ruling  faction,  em- 
ployed Napoleon  in  laying  down  plans  for  others  to 
carry  into  execution. 

This  obscure  position,  which  accorded  so  ill  with 
the  character  of  a  warrior,  to  whom  glory  and  ex- 
citement were  the  necessaries  of  existence,  was, 


PROPOSAL    OF    BONAPARTE.  23 

however,  very  soon  considered  too  advantageous 
and  too  honourable  for  the  young  officer  whom  it 
had  been  attempted  to  ruin.  Letourneur  de  la 
Manche,  who  succeeded  Pontecoulant  in  the  presi- 
dency of  the  military  committee,  imbibed  the  old 
rancour  of  Aubry,  and  Napoleon  lost  all  employ 
ment. 

It  was  then  that,  despairing  of  overcoming  the 
jealousies,  the  prepossessions,  and  the  powerful 
hatred  of  which  he  was  the  object,  and  no  less  un- 
willing to  throw  up  those  capacities  for  military  and 
political  action,  of  which  he  felt  himself  possessed ; 
for  a  moment  he  turned  his  eyes  from  Europe  to 
cast  them  towards  the  East.  He  felt  that  he  was 
formed  for  empire.  Nature  had  endowed  him  with 
a  mind  for  conceiving  and  accomplishing  it ;  and 
if  refused  by  France,  the  East  still  held  out  hopes. 

Filled  with  this  thought,  he  indited  a  note,  point- 
ing out  to  the  French  Government  that  it  was  to 
the  interest  of  the  republic  to  increase  the  means 
of  defence  of  the  Porte,  against  the  ambitious  views 
of  the  rest  of  Europe.  u  General  Bonaparte,"  said 
he,  "  who  since  his  youth  has  served  in  the  artillery 
who  commanded  it  at  Toulon,  and  during  two  cam- 
paigns of  the  army  of  Italy,  offers  to  depart  for 
Turkey  on  a  mission  from  the  Government.  He 
will  be  useful  to  France  in  this  new  career ;  if  he 
can  render  the  Turks  more  formidable,  repair  the 
defences  of  their  principal  fortresses,  and  build  oth- 
ers, he  will  have  done  good  service  to  his  country  " 


24  AFFAIRS    IN    PARIS. 

"  If  a  commissioner  at  war,"  says  M.  de  Bour- 
rienne,  "had  signed,  granted,  at  the  bottom  of  this 
note,  that  word  might  have  changed  the  face  of  all 
Europe."  But  the  word  was  not  written.  Internal 
politics  and  party  struggles,  prevented  the  Govern- 
ment from  giving  attention  to  military  plans  of 
which  the  result  was  as  uncertain  as  the  field  was 
distant ;  and  Napoleon  continued  to  live  idly  in 
Paris.  The  Revolution  did  not  let  him  wait  long. 
The  Royalists,  aroused  and  emboldened  by  the  dis- 
union prevalent,  incited  the  people  to  revolt  against 
the  convention.  The  insurgents  were  at  first  suc- 
cessful. General  Menou,  suspected  of  treason,  and 
certainly  guilty  of  indecision  and  incapacity,  facili- 
tated the  victory  of  the  sectionaries,  whom  he  had 
been  charged  to  disperse  and  reduce  to  submission ; 
and  he,  with  the  Representatives  accompanying 
him,  seeing  the  determined  front  of  the  rebels,  were 
glad  to  make  a  hasty  retreat.  The  leaders  of  the 
convention,  who  had  compromised  themselve*s  too 
much  with  the  Royalists,  recollected,  when  too  late, 
that  they  had  proscribed,  disarmed,  and  imprisoned 
a  crowd  of  ardent  patriots,  who  might,  in  the  pre- 
sent perilous  conjuncture,  have  become  intrepid 
auxiliaries. 

The  persecuted  republicans  heard  the  appeal  of 
their  persecutors,  and  fled  to  arms  to  save  them- 
selves from  the  common  danger.  But  another 
General  was  required  for  that  untutored  army,  after 
the  check  and  humiliation  of  Menou  ;  and  Barras, 


BONAPARTE    ASSISTS    THE    CONVENTION. 


9^ 


intended  for  its  chief,  could  exercise  little  more  than 
a  nominal  command.  He  had  the  good  sense  to 
perceive  this,  and  provided  himself  with  an  adjutant, 
who  was  better  acquainted  with  the  art  of  war.  He 
proposed  General  Bonaparte,  and  the  Convention 
confirmed  his  choice  by  a  decree  which  Napoleon 
heard  from  the  public  tribunals,  to  which  he  often 
resorted,  the  better  to  observe  the  conduct  of  the 
assembly,  which  held  the  destinies  of  the  Republic 
in  its  hands. 

According  to  the  Memorial  de  Sainte-Helene,  Na- 
poleon deliberated  with  himself  nearly  half  an  hour, 
whether  he  should  accept  or  refuse  the  important 
situation  to  which  he  was  called.  He  did  not  wish 
to  fight  against  Vendee,  neither  could  he  decide 
without  hesitation,  to  take  up  arms  against  the  Pa- 
risians. "  Should  the  Convention  be  defeated,"  he 
inwardly  reflected,  "  what  will  result  from  our  great 
Revolution  ?  The  numerous  victories  bought  with 
so  much  blood,  would  become  shameful  instead  of 
glorious  deeds  ;  and  the  enemy  we  have  so  often 
conquered,  will  triumph  and  overwhelm  us  with 
contempt.  The  defeat  of  the  Convention  will  crown 
the  enemy  with  glory,  and  at  once  seal  the  shame 
and  slavery  of  the  country."  These  sentiments, 
the  enthusiasm  of  youth,  being  but  twenty-five 
years  of  age,  his  destiny,  and  his  confidence  in  his 
own  powers,  prevailed.  He  decided  upon  accepting 
the  post,  and  presented  himself  to  the  Committee. 

This  resolution  was  fatal  to  the  insurgents,  for 


26  NAPOLEON    GENERAL-IN-CHIEF. 

Napoleon  conducted  his  measures  so  well,  that  after 
a  few  hours'  fighting,  the  Parisian  army  was  driven 
from  all  its  positions,  and  the  revolt  completely 
quelled. 

The  Convention  recompensed  its  deliverer  by  ap- 
pointing him  General-in-Chief  of  the  Army  of  the 
Interior.  From  this  day  Napoleon  foresaw  that  he 
would  soon  have  the  military  strength  of  France  at 
his  disposal ;  in  fact,  his  taking  the  supreme  com- 
mand of  the  capital,  was  the  first  step  to  the  throne. 

The  influence  of  the  insurrectional  movement  of 
ihe  Vendemiaire,  and  the  almost  universal  recrimi- 
nations which  arose  from  men  of  all  parties, 
against  the  Convention,  caused  them  to  order  a 
general  disarming  of  the  sections.  While  this  was 
going  forward,  a  lad  about  ten  or  twelve  years  of 
age,  came  and  entreated  the  General-in-chief  to  re- 
store to  him  the  sword  of  his  father,  who  had  com- 
manded the  republican  armies.  It  was  Eugene  de 
Beauharnais.  Napoleon  granted  his  request,  and 
treated  him  with  much  kindness.  The  youth  wept 
feelingly,  and  related  to  his  mother  the  kindness  of 
the  general ;  gratitude  prompted  her  to  thank  him 
in  person.  Madame  Beauharnais,  who  was  still 
young,  did  not  seek  in  this  visit  to  conceal  the  grace 
and  attraction  for  which  she  was  so  remarkable  in 
the  most  brilliant  societies  of  the  capital.  Napo- 
leon was  too  much  charmed  with  her,  not  to  profit 
by  the  advantages  which  chance  had  thrown  in  his 
way.     He  spent  all  his  evenings  with  Josephine, 


HE    MARRIES    JOSEPHINE.  27 

while  some  wrecks  of  the  ancient  aristocracy,  which 
he  there  met  with,  were  not  displeased  with  the  little 
"  mitrailleur."  When  most  of  the  company  had 
retired,  a  few  intimate  friends  remained,  such  as 
M.  de  Montesquieu,  and  the  Duke  of  Nivernais,  to 
converse  privately  of  the  old  court,  and  of  a  tour 
to  Versailles. 

It  was  not  a  mere  acquaintance,  nor  the  attach- 
ment of  a  day,  that  Napoleon  had  formed  for  Ma- 
dame Beauharnais.  Love  the  most  ardent  had 
taken  possession  of  his  soul,  and  his  marriage  with 
her  took  place  on  the  9th  of  March,  1796.  A  ne- 
gress  had  foretold  Josephine  that  she  would  be  a 
queen.  This  was  a  circumstance  she  was  fond  of 
relating  without  appearing  too  credulous.  Her 
union  with  Bonaparte  was  a  first  step  towards  the 
fulfilment  of  the  prophecy. 


28  BONAPARTE  3    PLAN, 


CHAPTER   V. 

COMMENCEMENT    OF   THE    FIRST    CAMPAIGN    IN    ITALY© 

CHERER,  the  General-in-chief  of  the 
Army  of  Italy,  had  compromised  the 
arms  and  honour  of  the  Republic  by 
his  military  incapacity ;  by  his  mis- 
management, he  had  suffered  his  own 
horses  to  perish  for  want  of  subsist- 
ence, and  the  army  to  become  destitute  of  every 
necessary ;  in  consequence  of  which,  they  could  no 
longer  maintain  their  position  on  the  coast  of  Genoa. 
The  Directory  were  unable  to  supply  them  with 
money  or  food,  and  to  put  an  end  to  their  distress, 
sent  them  a  new  General ;  happily  for  the  soldiers 
this  was  Bonaparte,  whose  genius  speedily  supplied 
the  place  of  everything. 

Bonaparte  quitted  Paris  on  the  21st  of  March, 
1796,  leaving  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  In- 
terior to  an  old  general  named  Hatri.  He  had  al- 
ready formed  his  plan  for  the  campaign,  and  resolved 
to  penetrate  into  Italy  by  the  valley  which  separates 
the  Peaks  of  the  Alps  and  the  Apennines,  and  by  a 
disunion  of  the  Austro-Sardinian  army,  compel  the 


HIS    SUCCESSES    IN    ITALY.  29 

Imperial  forces  to  cover  Milan,  and  the  Piedmontese 
to  protect  their  capital.  He  arrived  at  Nice  by  *he 
end  of  March  ;  the  head-quarters,  which  had  been 
in  this  town  since  the  commencement  of  the  cam- 
paign, were  fixed  at  Albenga. 

The  enemy's  army  was  commanded  by  Beaulieu, 
a  distinguished  officer,  who  had  acquired  some  repu- 
tation in  the  campaigns  of  the  North ;  learning  that 
the  French  army,  which  until  now,  had  with  diffi- 
culty defended  itself,  had  suddenly  changed  its  plan 
to  the  offensive,  and  was  boldly  preparing  to  force 
the  gates  of  Italy,,  he  hastened  to  quit  Milan,  and  fly 
to  the  assistance  of  Genoa.  Posted  at  Novi,  where 
he  had  established  his  head-quarters,  he  divided  his 
army  into  three  bodies,  and  published  a  manifesto, 
which  the  French  General  sent  to  the  Directory, 
saying  he  would  reply  to  it  "the  day  after  the  battle." 

This  battle  took  place  on  the  11th,  at  Monte- 
notte;  signalizing  at  one  blow  the  brilliant  com- 
mencement of  the  campaign  ;  it  procured  for  the 
Republican  General  his  first  victory,  and  that  from 
which  he  dated  the  origin  of  his  nobility. 

The  result  of  those  brilliant  days  in  which  the 
names  of  Joubert,  Massena  and  Augereau,  were, 
for  the  first  time,  gloriously  revealed  to  France,  was 
the  cutting  off  the  van-guard  of  the  enemy,  com- 
manded by  Provera,  and  making  him  lay  down  his 
arms  ;  to  prepare  the  disjunction  of  the  Austrians 
and  the  Piedmontese,  and  to  open  to  the  Republican 
troops  the  road  to  Milan  and  Turin. 


30  SARDINIA    SUBJECTED. 

On  the  22d,  a  fresh  victory  was  gained.  The 
Tanaro  was  passed  —  the  redoubt  of  Bicoque  car- 
ried, Mondovi  and  its  magazines  in  the  power  of 
the  Republican  army ;  on  the  25th,  Cherasco  was 
taken,  it  had  several  pieces  of  cannon,  and  the  place 
was  speedily  fortified.  An  armistice  was  signed 
there  on  the  28th. 

The  king  of  Sardinia  bestirred  himself  and  opened 
active  negotiations.  He  despatched  the  Count  de 
Revel  to  Paris  with  instructions  to  procure  the  rati- 
fication of  the  peace.  Napoleon  on  his  side  had 
already  sent  Murat,  chief  of  a  squadron  of  horse, 
to  the  capita],  charged  with  a  report  of  the  victories 
which  had  signalized  the  opening  of  the  campaign : 
"You  can,"  he  wrote  to  the  Directory,  "make  peace 
on  your  own  terms  with  the  king  of  Sardinia ;  if 
you  intend  dethroning  him,  you  must  delay  about 
ten  days,  letting  me  know,  when  I  will  take  imme- 
diate possession  of  Valencia  and  march  upon  Turin. 

"  I  shall  send  twelve  thousand  men  to  Rome,  as 
soon  as  I  have  beaten  Beaulieu." 

The  representatives  of  the  nation  received  this; 
message,  decreeing  for  the  fifth  time  in  six  days 
that  the  army  of  Italy  deserved  well  of  the  country. 
The  peace  with  the  king  of  Sardinia  soon  added  to 
the  public  joy.  It  was  signed  on  the  15th  of  May, 
most  advantageously  for  France. 

Bonaparte,  having  now  but  the  Imperial  forces 
to  contend  with,  determined  to  move  at  once  for  the 
Adige,  with  that  daring  celerity  which  had,  in  n  few 


NAPOLEON    ENTERS    MILAN.  31 

days,  rendered  him  master  of  the  finest  provinces 
of  the  Sardinian  monarchy;  and  set  out  after  hav- 
ing written  to  the  Directory: — "I  march  to-morrow 
against  Beaulieu;  I  shall  compel  him  to  repass  the 
Po;  and  crossing  immediately  after,  shall  take  pos- 
session of  all  Lombardy;  in  less  than  a  month  1 
hope  to  be  in  the  Tyrol,  to  meet  with  the  army  of 
the  Rhine,  and  in  concert  with  it,  carry  the  war 
into  Bavaria." 

The  10th  of  May  the  fresh  victory  from  which 
Bonaparte  expected  the  possession  of  Italy  was 
added  to  the  page  of  history,  rendering  famous  the 
name  of  Lodi,  of  which  the  republicans  took  pos- 
session. 

This  battle  was  the  prelude  to  the  conquest  of 
Lombardy.  In  a  few  days  Pizzighitone,  Cremona, 
and  all  the  principal  towns  of  the  Milanese^  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  French  army. 

Bonaparte  made  his  triumphal  entry  into  Milan 
on  the  15th  of  May,  whilst  the  peace  was  being 
signed  at  Paris,  which  he  had  himself  imposed  on 
Sardinia,  at  Montenotte,  at  Dego,  at  Millesimo,  and 
at  Mondovia. 


32 


FURTHER    VICTORIES. 


CHAPTER   VI. 


CONCLTSION    OF     FIRST    CAMPAIGN     IN     ITALY. 
PARTE    SAILS    FOR    EGYPT. 


BONA- 


ROM  the  moment  the  victory  of  Lodi 
was  gained,  Napoleon's  army  became 
invincible.  Beaulieu  effected  his  re- 
treat, abandoning  behind  him  Cremo- 
na, Milan,  Pavia,  Como,  and  Cassano, 
— into  which  places  the  French  entered. 
Bonaparte  received  the  submission  of  the  town  of 
Genoa,  and  that  of  Hercules  d'Este,  duke  of  Mo- 
dena.  That  prince  paid  to  the  French  a  large  con- 
tribution in  money,  and  retired  to  Venice.  General 
Vaubois  took  possession  of  Leghorn,  where  six  hun- 
dred Corsicans  had  taken  refuge.  These  Bonaparte 
sent  back  to  their  island,  to  get  up  an  insurrection 
against  the  English;  who  were,  in  consequence, 
expelled  thence.  The  conqueror  imposed  on  the 
pope,  as  the  conditions  of  peace,  a  payment  of 
twenty-one  millions,  and  one  hundred  masterpieces 
from  his  museums.  The  king  of  Naples  was  taxed 
at  six  millions.  Bonaparte  then  marched  upon 
Vienna ;  and  the  army  of  the  Sambre  and  Meuse, 


JOURDAN    AND    MOREAU.  33 

under  Jourdan,  and  that  of  the  Rhine,  under  Moreau, 
moved  in  the  same  direction.  The  archduke  Charles, 
the  emperor's  brother,  was  commander-in-chief  of 
the  Austrian  army ;  and  Moreau  began  by  gaining 
from  him  four  consecutive  victories.  He  was,  then, 
about  to  join  his  forces  with  those  of  Jourdan,  when, 
inspired  by  the  danger  in  which  he  saw  himself 
placed,  the  archduke  detached  thirty  thousand  men, 
whom  he  sent  against  the  advanced  guard  of  Jour- 
dan, overthrew  it,  cut  off  the  communication  be- 
tween the  two  armies,  and  crushed  that  of  the  Sam- 
bre  and  Meuse,  compelling  it  to  fall  back,  in  the 
greatest  disorder,  on  the  point  from  whence  it  had 
set  out.  He  then  directed  his  entire  forces  against 
Moreau;  who,  master  of  Ulm  and  encamped  at  the 
gates  of  Munich,  covered  an  immense  ground,  and 
reckoned  on  the  army  of  Jourdan  to  maintain  him- 
self there.  Deprived  of  this  succour,  he  commanded, 
and  executed,  an  admirable  retreat,  traversing  more 
than  one  hundred  leagues  of  country,  in  presence 
of  a  formidable  enemy,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  hostile 
population, — and  re-entered  Friburg,  without  having 
suffered  his  line  of  march  to  be  once  broken. 

Bonaparte,  however,  continued  to  triumph  over 
all  obstacles,  and  approached  Mantua.  He  block- 
aded that  place,  and  entered  the  territory  of  the 
city  of  Venice,  which  was  ruined  by  its  neutrality. 
Old  Wurmser  raised  the  blockade  of  Mantua;  Bo- 
naparte triumphed  in  the  celebrated  battles  of  Cas- 
tiglione  and  Lonato;  but  a  skilful  march  brought 

c 


34  DESIGNS    OF    NAPOLEON. 

Wurmser  with  thirty  thousand  men  into  Mantua. 
Bonaparte  turned  the  place,  blockaded  it  anew,  and 
gained  the  brilliant  victory  of  Areola,  where  he  per- 
formed prodigies  of  valour,  and  exposed  himself  to 
great  dangers.  It  was  in  this  battle,  that  Napoleon, 
perceiving  the  grenadiers  hesitate  for  a  moment 
under  the  terrible  fire  of  the  enemy,  which  occupied 
some  formidable  positions,  sprung  to  the  ground, 
seized  a  flag  and  rushed  upon  the  bridge  of  Areola, 
exclaiming:  "Soldiers!  are  you  no  longer  the  brave 
warriors  of  Lodi? — follow  me  !"  Augereau  did  the 
same.  These  heroic  examples  did  not  fail  to  in 
fluence  the  result  of  the  battle.  Alvinzi  lost  thirty 
pieces  of  cannon,  five  thousand  prisoners,  and  six 
thousand  slain  ;  Davidowich  regained  the  Tyrol, 
and  Wurmser  re-entered  Mantua. 

The  victory  of  Rivoli,  (1797,)  in  which  Joubert 
had  a  great  share,  followed  closely  upon  that  of 
Areola ;  and  the  pope,  who  had  at  length  taken  up 
arms  at  the  instigation  of  Austria,  was  compelled 
to  give  in  his  submission.  Wurmser,  pressed  by 
famine  in  Mantua,  determined  upon  capitulating, 
and  all  Europe  rang  with  the  name  of  the  conqueror. 
From  that  moment  Bonaparte  foresaw  the  great 
destiny  that  awaited  him,  and  neglected  no  means 
of  fortune  or  fame.  In  the  intervals  of  his  battles, 
he  conversed  with  savans  and  poets,  extolled  the 
republic,  and  in  all  things  gave  evidence  of  the  fu- 
ture ruler.  Affable  with  his  lieutenants  and  soldiers, 
to  the  directors  he  exhibited  a  haughty  reserve,  and 


ARMISTICE    WITH    AUSTRIA.  35 

had,  at  the  same  time,  the  art  to  make  his  presence 
at  the  head  of  his  triumphal  army  appear  to  them 
indispensable.  He  availed  himself  of -the  popular 
sympathies  against  governments  ;  and  transformed 
Lombardy  into  a  Cisalpine  republic,  of  which  Milan 
became  the  capital.  Numerous  reinforcements  hav- 
ing readied  him  from  France,  he  marched  again 
upon  Vienna,  having  prince  Charles  in  his  front. 
Massena  commanded  the  advanced  guard,  and  im- 
mortalized himself  by  his  victories  at  Tagliamento 
and  elsewhere.  Carinthia  and  Styria  were  rapidly 
subdued;  terror  reigned  at  Vienna;  and  Bonaparte 
awaited  the  movements  of  the  other  armies  to  pene- 
trate further.  Hoche  commanded  that  of  the  Sam- 
bre  and  Meuse ;  and  Moreau  retained  that  of  the 
Rhine.  Their  progress  was  slow ;  and  Joubert, 
whom  Bonaparte  had  left  behind,  with  three  divisions 
for  the  defence  of  the  Tyrol,  was  beaten  by  prince 
Charles,  and  compelled  to  retreat.  Informed  of  this 
reverse,  Bonaparte  sent  to  Vienna  to  treat  for  peace; 
and  an  armistice  was  concluded  at  Lcoben.  The 
French  general  ceded  to  Austria  Mantua  and  a  por 
tion  of  Venetian  Lombardy  which  he  had  conquered, 
in  exchange  for  the  Cisalpine  republic  which  he  had 
founded.  The  Directory  rejected  these  prelimina- 
ries ;  and  Bonaparte  suggested  Venice  to  Austria, 
as  an  indemnity  for  Mantua.  The  fate  of  thai 
republic  was,  accordingly  decided.  The  French 
emissaries,  everywhere,  excited  the  people  against 
the  senate ;  but  at  Verona,  a  city  dependent  on  Ve- 


36  TREATY    OF    CAMPO    FORMIO. 

nice,  the  French  garrison  was  slaughtered  in  a  popu 
lar  revolt.  Bonaparte,  who  sought  but  a  pretext  to 
justify  an  act  of  spoliation,  inveighed  furiously  against 
the  Venetian  republic,  and  demanded  vengeance  for 
the  massacre  of  Verona.  Nothing  could  appease 
him ;  and  general  Baraguay  d'Hilliers  marched 
against  Venice.  Alarmed  at  his  approach,  the  se- 
nate voted  a  constitution,  in  the  hope  of  conciliating 
France,  and  then  dissolved  itself.  The  French  en- 
tered the  city;  and,  by  the  definitive  treaty  of  Campo 
Formio,  delivered  it  to  Austria,  in  exchange  for  the 
Beloric  and  Lombard  states.  Mantua  was  added  to 
the  Cisalpine  republic  ;  as  were  also  the  Bolognese 
and  Romagna.  The  congress  of  Radstadt  was 
opened,  at  the  same  time,  to  treat  of  peace  with 
the  empire.  The  release  of  general  La  Fayette 
and  his  three  companions  in  misfortune  was  one 
of  the  articles  of  the  glorious  treaty  of  Campo 
Formio.  All  the  combined  powers,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  England,  had  laid  down  their  arms;  and 
France  had  extended  her  system  in  Europe, — a 
great  portion  of  her  frontiers,  from  the  North  Sea 
to  the  gulf  of  Genoa,  being  covered  by  republican 
states. 

Previously,  however,  to  the  signature  of  this  ad- 
vantageous treaty,  the  inevitable  disagreement  be- 
tween the  electoral  and  executive  powers  had  broken 
violently  out,  at  the  close  of  the  elections  for  the 
year  5.  Of  these  elections  the  greater  part  had 
been  made  under  the  influence  of  the  reactionary 


DISSENSIONS    IN    PARIS.  37 

party.  Picbegru  was  enthusiastically  chosen  to  the 
presidency  of  the  council  of  cinq-cents,  and  Barbe- 
Marbois  to  that  of  the  ancieiis.  Le  Tourneur  had 
been  designated  by  lot  as  the  retiring  member  of 
the  Directory  for  this  year;  and  he  was  replaced  by 
Barthelemy,  ambassador  to  Switzerland.  Scarcely 
were  the  councils  constituted,  ere  they  entered  into 
conflict  with  the  government.  Letters  of  amnesty, 
in  favour  of  the  proscribed,  were  precipitately  voted. 
Camille  Jordan,  the  deputy  for  Lyons,  a  man  of 
great  eloquence  and  courage,  appeared  as  an  ardent 
panegyrist  of  the  clergy,  and  demanded  the  abolition 
of  the  civic  oath, — which,  however,  was  retained, 
in  spite  of  his  endeavours.  The  priests  and  emi- 
grants returned  in  crowds ;  all  the  interests  born 
of  th?  revolution  were  compromised,  and  the  direc- 
tors saw  themselves  powerless  for  their  defence. 
The  constitution  not  having  invested  them  with  the 
wholesome  right  of  appealing  to  public  opinion,  by 
dissolving  the  councils,  they  determined  upon  break- 
ing them  up  by  forcible  means.  The  constitution- 
alists of  1791  made  common  cause  with  them;  and 
opposed  the  republican  club  of  Salm  to  the  club  of 
Clichy,  founded  by  the  royalists.  The  first  of  these 
was  supported  by  the  army,  and  the  second  by  the 
councils.  The  directors  caused  several  regiments 
to  approach  the  capital,  in  contempt  of  the  constitu- 
tion, which  forbade  the  calling  of  troops  into  Paris, 
or  within  twelve  leagues  thereof,  without  an  eApress 
law  to  that  effect.     The  councils  broke  out  into 


38  EIGHTEENTH    FRUCTIDOR. 

furious  menaces ;  and,  in  reply,  the  Directory  pro 
duced  threatening  addresses  from  each  of  the  armies 
to  the  councils.  The  struggle  increased  in  violence ; 
and  vainly  did  Carnot  and  Barthelemy  endeavour 
to  act  as  pacificators.  The  majority  of  the  Direc- 
tory, composed  of  Barras,  Rewbel,  and  La  Reveil- 
lere,  were  convinced  that  their  own  cause,  and  that 
of  the  revolution,  could  no  longer  be  maintained  by 
legal  means;  —  they  were  menaced  with  a  violent 
and  illegal  attack,  and  determined  to  anticipate 
their  enemies.  The  18th  Fructidor  was  fixed  as 
the  day  on  which  the  blow  should  be  struck.  Dur- 
ing the  night,  twelve  hundred  men  entered  Paris, 
under  the  command  of  Augereau ;  and  by  the  first 
dawn  of  morning,  these  troops,  with  forty  pieces 
of  cannon,  had  surrounded  the  Tuileries.  The 
grenadiers  of  the  legislative  guard  joined  Augereau; 
who,  with  his  own  hand,  arrested  generals  Pichegru 
and  Willot,  and  the  commandant  Ramel,  in  the  hall 
of  session.  A  great  number  of  members  of  the 
councils  were  turned  back,  or  seized  by  the  armed 
force,  as  they  were  entering  the  Tuileries.  The 
directors  appointed  the  Odeon  and  the  Ecole  de 
Medecine,  as  the  new  places  of  meeting  for  the 
councils.  They  published,  at  the  same  time,  a  let- 
ter from  Moreau,  which  disclosed  the  treason  of 
Pichegru ;  and,  after  having  given  an  account  of 
their  own  conduct,  caused  a  commission  to  be  ap- 
pointed, for  the  purpose  of  preparing  a  law  of  public 
safety.    By  that  law,  forty-two  members  of  the  coun- 


SEVERITIES    OF    THE    DIRECTORY.  39 

cil  of  Five  Hundred,  eleven  members  of  that  of  the 
anciens,  and  two  directors,  Carnot  and  Barthelemy, 
were  condemned  to  be  transported  to  Cayenne. 
Amongst  those  against  whom  this  violent  measure 
was  directed  were  Pichegru,  Boissy-d'Anglas,  Ca- 
mille  Jordan,  Pastoret,  Simeon,  Barbe-Marbois, 
Lafon-Ladebat,  Portalis,  and  Troncon  du  Coudray. 
The  directors  carried  their  severities  still  further, 
and  sacrificed  to  their  resentment  the  authors  of 
thirty-five  journals.  They  caused  the  laws  in  favour 
of  priests  and  emigrants  to  be  repealed ;  and  an- 
nulled the  elections  for  forty-eight  departments. 
The  day  of  the  1 8th  Fructidor  ruined  the  royalist 
party,  revived  that  of  the  republicans,  taught  the 
army  the  dangerous  secret  of  its  strength  in  the 
government  of  the  state,  and  substituted  a  dictator- 
ship for  the  authority  of  the  law.  Carnot  and  Bar- 
thelemy were  replaced  by  Merlin  de  Douai,  and 
Francois  de  Neufchateau.  The  treaty  of  Campo 
Formio,  which  followed  this  revolution,  had  been 
signed  by  Bonaparte  against  the  expressed  will  of 
the  directors ;  and  they  could  not  see,  without 
alarm,  a  young  general,  lifted  to  the  highest  rank 
by  a  single  campaign,  deciding  arbitrarily  on  the 
question  of  war  or  peace.  Public  opinion,  however, 
exalted  his  triumphs ;  and  the  directors,  not  daring 
to  disavow  him,  endeavoured  to  assume  the  appear- 
ance of  associating  themselves  with  his  glory,  by 
granting  such  honours  to  him  in  Paris  as  had  never 
before  been  paid  to  any  general.     The  Directorial 


40  NAPOLEON  SAILS  FOR  EGYPT. 

government,  in  which  Treilhard  soon  succeeded  to 
Francois  de  Neufchateau,  had  now  attained  the 
highest  degree  of  power.  That  power  reposed  en- 
tirely upon  the  army ;  and  this  false  and  dangerous 
position  imposed  on  the  Directors  the- necessity  of 
keeping  the  troops  beneath  their  colours,  and  con- 
tinuing the  war.  Barras,  in  haranguing  Bonaparte, 
had  pointed  out  to  him  England,  as  a  new  conquest 
for  his  arms;  and  a  plan  of  descent  upon  that  coast 
had  been  in  contemplation.  This,  however,  was 
speedily  abandoned ;  and  an  invasion  of  Egypt  de- 
termined upon,  in  defiance  of  the  neutrality  observed 
by  the  Ottoman  Porte.  Bonaparte  had  the  command 
of  this  adventurous  expedition ;  and  the  Directory 
felt  reassured  at  the  absence  of  the  man  whom  it 
dreaded  most, — whilst  the  course  in  question  was 
equally  agreeable  to  the  youthful  conqueror  of  Italy, 
by  affording  a  favourable  opportunity  of  extending 
his  renown,  and  adding  to  the  vast  estimate  of  his 
talents  which  France  had  already  conceived.  He 
departed  from  Toulon,  with  a  fleet  of  four  hundred 
sail,  accompanied  by  a  body  of  celebrated  savaiis, 
and  a  portion  of  the  army  of  Italy.  On  his  way 
he  took  possession  of  the  island  of  Malta,  and  then 
made  sail  for  the  coast  of  Egypt.   (1798.) 


ANECDOTES.  41 


CHAPTER  VII. 


ANECDOTES    OF    THE    FIRST    CAMPAIGN    IN    ITALY. 

The  Battle  of  LodL 

| HE  bridge  of  Lodi  gives  name  to  an 
action  that  took  place  there  between 
the  French  and  the  Austrians,  in  1797, 
and  which  decided  the  fate  of  the 
Italian  campaign. 
It  was  an  object  with  Bonaparte,  to 
force  the  bridge  of  Lodi,  which  crosses  the  Adda 
at  a  place  where  the  river  is  about  two  hundred 
yards  broad,  and  the  breadth  of  the  bridge  is  about 
ten.  A  battery  of  cannon  commanded  the  whole 
length  of  it  by  a  raking  fire,  while  other  batteries, 
above  and  below,  threatened  destruction  to  any 
force  that  should  attempt  to  cross. 

Without  losing  a  moment,  though  it  was  late  in 
the  evening  when  he  arrived  at  Lodi,  Napoleon  or- 
dered the  passage  to  be  attempted;  and  a  column 
of  the  French,  headed  by  their  principal  general 
officers,  persevering  under  a  deadly  fire,  this  most 
singular  instance  of  military  enthusiasm  and  daring 
was  crowned  with  complete  success. 


42  ANECDOTES    OF    THE 

Napoleon's  presence  of  mind  at  the  Bridge  of  Lodi, 

At  this  memorable  passage,  it  was  not  less  the 
celerity  and  promptitude  of  movement,  than  in- 
vincible heroism,  that  carried  the  day.  The  fire 
of  the  enemy,  who  defended  the  passage  with  thirty 
pieces  of  cannon,  was  terrible;  the  head  of  the 
charging  column  of  the  French  appeared  to  give 
way ;  "  a  moment  of  hesitation,"  says  Bonaparte, 
in  his  official  despatch  on  the  occasion,  "would 
have  lost  all.  Generals  Berthier,  Massena,  Cervoni, 
D'Allemagne,  the  chief  of  brigade,  Lannes,  and  the 
chief  of  battalion,  Dupat,  dashed  forwards  at  its 
head,  and  determined  the  fate  of  the  day,  still 
wavering  in  the  balance."  Bonaparte  does  not 
include  his  own  name  in  the  list  of  this  heroic  band, 
though  well  known  to  have  been  one  of  the  foremost 
in  the  charge ;  the  modesty  which  dictated  this  con- 
cealment, even  his  revilers  must  admire.  "  This 
redoubtable  column,"  he  continues,  "overturned  all 
opposed  to  it ;  Beaulieu's  order  of  battle  was  broken ; 
astonishment,  flight,  and  death,  were  spread  on  all 
sides.  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  enemy's 
army  was  scattered  in  confusion." 

"Although,"  he  continues,  "since  the  commence- 
ment of  the  campaign  we  have  had  some  very  warm 
affairs,  and  although  the  army  has  often  been  under 
the  necessity  of  acting  with  great  audacity,  nothing 
has  occurred  which  can  be  compared  to  the  terrible 
passage  of  the  Bridge  of  Lodi. 


THE   BRIDGE   OJ  ARCOLA. 


> 


FIRST    CAMPAIGN    IN    ITALY.  43 

"  Our  loss  has  been  small :  and  this  we  owe  to 
the  promptitude  of  the  execution,  and  to  the  sudden 
effect  which  the  charge  of  this  intrepid  column 
produced  on  the  enemy." 

The  Bridge  of  Areola. 

The  passage  of  the  bridge  of  Areola  may  be 
esteemed  the  height  of  boldness.  Thousands  of 
men  and  musketry  served  to  defend  the  approach 
to  this  particular  spot,  which  was  completely  fenced 
by  cannon  in  every  direction ;  thrice  had  General 
Bonaparte  commanded  the  charge  in  person,  and 
thrice  had  his  followers,  disdaining  to  retreat,  fallen 
sacrifices  to  their  temerity;  the  death-dealing  bul- 
lets continued  their  destructive  career,  levelling  all 
those  who  dared  to  encounter  their  vengeful  flight. 
Napoleon,  at  length  growing  indignant,  gave  utter- 
ance to  an  exclamation  of  fury,  and  instantly  tearing 
one  of  the  standards  from  the  grasp  of  an  ensign, 
sprang  upon  this  bridge,  the  scene  of  carnage  and 
slaughter ;  when,  planting  the  flag  in  defiance  of 
destiny  itself,  which  seemed  to  oppose  him,  he  thus 
addressed  his  soldiers — 

"Frenchmen!  Grenadiers!  will  you,  then,  aban- 
don your  colours ! " 

This  appeal  seemed  to  convey  a  reproach  ill- 
adapted  to  the  spirit  of  such  courageous  men  ; 
wherefore,  before  the  General  was  enabled  to  re- 
peat them,  all  thought  of  danger  had   vanished, 


44  ANECDOTES    OF    THE 

death  was  faced  in  every  direction,  the  bridge  of 
Areola  was  forced,  and  victory  once  more  crowned 
the  republican  standard. 

The  Pioneer, 

In  delivering  his  orders,  the  General,  with  that 
presence  of  mind  which  is  uniformly  the  precursor 
of  victory,  presented  himself  in  person  at  every  point 
where  danger  appeared  to  threaten  the  most,  and 
thus  exposed  himself  like  the  common  soldier. 

Upon  one  of  these  occasions  a  pioneer,  perceiving 
the  imminent  risk  Napoleon  ran,  thus  addressed  him 
in  the  unsophisticated  language  of  a  camp — "Stand 
aside!" — General  Bonaparte,  fixing  his  eyes  upon 
him,  hesitated,  when  the  veteran,  rudely  pushing 
him,  addressed  Napoleon  in  these  words,  which 
were  expressive  of  the  greatest  compliment  that 
could  possibly  be  paid  to  his  talents  as  a  military 
commander: 

"  If  thou  art  killed,  who  is  to  rescue  us  from  this 
jeopardy  ? " 

Bonaparte  instantly  appreciated  the  sterling  value 
of  this  exclamation,  and  consequently  remained 
silent;  but,  after  the  termination  of  the  conflict, 
which  proved  favourable  to  the  republican  flag,  he 
ordered  this  independent  pioneer  to  be  brought  into 
his  presence,  when,  familiarly  tapping  him  upon  the 
shoulder,  he  thus  addressed  him : 

"  Thy  noble  boldness  claims  my  esteem ;   thy 


FIRST    CAMPAIGN    IN    ITALY.  45 

bravery  demands  a  recompense;  from  this  hour, 
instead  of  the  hatchet,  an  epaulette  shall  grace  thy 
shoulder." 

He  was,  of  course,  immediately  raised  to  the 
rank  of  an  officer. 

Milan. 

On  the  evening  of  the  day  previous  to  the  taking 
of  the  city  of  Milan,  General  Bonaparte,  being  then 
commander-in-chief  of  the  army  of  Italy,  was  en- 
gaged to  dine  at  the  mansion  of  a  lady  of  conse- 
quence. This  personage,  considering  the  distin- 
guished rank,  and  above  all,  the  illustrious  name 
of  her  guest,  conducted  the  honours  of  her  table 
with  the  greatest  attention  and  politeness.  Napo- 
leon, however,  being  fully  occupied  with  the  mo- 
mentous events  that  were  to  characterize  the  suc- 
ceeding day,  replied  with  coldness  and  brevity  to 
the  repeated  marks  of  deference  which  the  hostess 
pointedly  expressed  towards  him;  who,  at  length, 
in  order  to  give  animation  to  the  company,  requested 
to  know  Bonaparte's  age,  adding,  by  way  of  pallia- 
tion of  the  apparent  rudeness  of  the  inquiiy: 

"That  he  appeared  by  far  too  young  to  have 
already  gained  so  many  laurels ! " 

"Truly,  madam,"  answered  the  General  with  a 
smile,  "I  am  not  indeed  very  old  at  the  present 
moment;  but  in  less  than  twenty-four  hours  I  shall 


46  ANECDOTES    OF    THE 

count  much  more,  for  to-day  I  have  to  number 
twenty-five  years,  whereas  to-morrow  I  shall  have 
attained  Mil-an"  (mille-ans),  a  thousand  years. 

The  Sleeping  Sentinel. 

The  army  of  Italy,  under  General  Bonaparte, 
having  been  engaged  against  the  Austrians  during 
a  whole  day,  at  length  terminated  the  battle,  by 
gaining  a  complete  victory,  at  the  very  moment 
when  the  declining  sun  threw  a  parting  gleam  upon 
the  western  horizon.  During  the  period  of  this 
conflict,  and  the  two  foregoing  days,  the  troops  had 
not  tasted  repose,  and  the  complete  flight  of  the 
enemy,  at  this  particular  juncture,  was  therefore  the 
more  fortunate,  as  the  French  were  thus  enabled  to 
enjoy  that  repose  during  the  night,  of  which  they 
most  gladly  took  the  advantage. 

Notwithstanding  this  harassed  state  of  the  army, 
it  was  necessary  to  establish  outposts;  when  a 
grenadier,  stationed  upon  this  service,  which  pre- 
cluded the  idea  of  rest,  being  quite  exhausted  with 
fatigue,  fell  fast  asleep  at  his  post. 

Napoleon,  who  offered  up  his  own  repose  as  a 
sacrifice  to  the  more  imperious  calls  of  promptitude 
and  glory,  proceeded,  alone,  to  visit  the  outskirts 
of  the  camp,  and  in  this  survey  arrived  at  the  spot 
where  lay  extended  the  sleeping  sentinel,  who  could 
hardly  be  deemed  guilty  of  a  breach  of  duty,  but 


FIRST    CAMPAIGN    IN    ITALY.  47 

the  unwilling  victim  of  extreme  fatigue,  that  totally 
overpowered  him. 

Bonaparte,  unmindful  of  his  dignity,  and  actuated 
Dnly  by  noble  motives,  took  up  the  soldier's  musket, 
which  lay  beside  him ;  when,  placing  it  upon  his 
own  shoulder,  he  continued  to  mount  guard  for 
nearly  an  hour,  in  order  to  insure  the  safety  of  the 
camp.  The  grenadier  at  length  awoke,  and  sought 
for  his  piece  in  vain,  but,  by  the  light  of  the  moon, 
perceived  the  general,  who  had  thus  paid  respect 
to  his  repose. 

"  Oh  !  I  am  undone ! "  vociferated  the  soldier, 
recognising  Napoleon,  whose  lineaments  were 
graven  upon  the  heart  of  every  soldier. 

"No,  my  friend,"  replied  the  general,  with  ex- 
treme affability,  at  the  same  time  surrendering  up 
his  musket,  "  the  battle  was  obstinate  and  long 
enough  contested  to  excuse  your  having  thus  yielded 
to  the  impulse  of  fatigue ;  one  moment  of  inatten- 
tion, however,  might  endanger  the  safety  of  the 
camp ;  I  was  awake,  and  have  only  to  advise,  that 
you  wrould  be  more  upon  your  guard  for  the  future !" 

Le  Petit  CaporaL 

A  singular  custom  was  established  in  the  army 
of  Italy,  in  consequence  of  the  youth  of  the  com- 
mander, or  from  some  other  cause.  After  each 
battle,  the  oldest  soldiers  used  to  hold  a  council, 


48 


ANECDOTES. 


and  confer  a  new  rank  on  their  young  general,  who, 
when  he  made  his  appearance  in  the  camp,  was  re- 
ceived by  the  veterans,  and  saluted  with  his  new 
title.  They  made  him  a  corporal  at  Lodi,  and  a 
serjeant  at  Castiglione ;  and  hence  the  surname  of 
"  Petit  Caporal,"  which  was  for  a  long  time  applied 
to  Napoleon  by  the  soldiers.  How  subtle  is  the 
chain  which  unites  the  most  trivial  circumstances 
to  the  most  important  events  !  Perhaps  this  very 
nickname  contributed  to  his  miraculous  success  on 
his  return  in  1815.  While  he  was  haranguing  the 
first  battalion,  which  he  found  it  necessary  to  ad- 
dress, a  voice  from  the  ranks  exclaimed,  "Vive  notre 
petit  Caporal !    we  will  never  fight  against  him ! ' 


TAKING    OF    MALTA.  49 


CHAPTER  VIIL 


CONQUEST     OF     EGYPT. 


MERGING  from  the  harbour  of  Tou- 
lon, the  fleet  directed  its  course  to- 
wards Malta. 

After  an  agreeable  passage  of  twenty 
days,  the  French  fleet  appeared  on  the 
10th  of  June  before  Malta,  which  sur- 
rendered without  resistance.  After  visiting  the 
fortifications,  Cafarelli  observed  to  Bonaparte, — 
"My  faith,  general,  we  are  very  fortunate  to  have 
found  some  one  in  the  town  to  open  the  gates  for 
us."  Napoleon  has,  however,  denied  at  St.  Helena 
that  he  owed  this  conquest  to  any  private  aid.  "It 
was  in  Mantua,"  said  he,  "  that  I  took  Malta ;  the 
generous  treatment  shown  towards  Wurmser,  pro- 
cured me  the  submission  of  the  grand  master  and 
the  knights."  M.  de  Bourrienne  affirms  on  the 
contrary,  that  the  knights  were  betrayed. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  Bonaparte  stayed  but  a  few 
days  at  Malta.  The  fleet  sailed  towards  Candia, 
of  which  it  came  in  sight  on  the  23d  of  June;  and 
it  was  in  consequence  of  its  taking  this  direction 
that  Nelson   was   deceived,  and   prevented   from 


50  BONAPARTE    LANDS    IN    EGYPT. 

meeting  the  French  expedition  before  Alexandria, 
as  he  had  calculated  upon  doing.  It  was  very  for- 
tunate for  the  French  army,  for  Brueys  declared, 
that  with  ten  ships  only,  the  English  admiral  would 
have  had  every  chance  of  success.  "  It  was  the 
will  of  God,"  he  often  said  with  a  profound  sigh, 
"  that  we  should  pass  without  meeting  the  English !" 

The  fleet  arrived  on  the  1st  of  July  before  Alex- 
andria. Nelson  had  been  there  two  days  before, 
and  surprised  at  not  meeting  the  French  expedition, 
imagined  it  had  made  for  the  coast  of  Svria,  in 
order  to  disembark  at  Alexandretta.  Bonaparte, 
informed  of  his  appearance,  and  foreseeing  his 
speedy  return,  resolved  immediately  to  effect  the 
landing  of  his  army.  Admiral  Brueys  raised  ob- 
jections to  this,  and  opposed  it  strongly ;  but  Bo- 
naparte insisted  upon  it.  "  Admiral,"  said  he  to 
Brueys,  who  asked  for  a  delay  of  twelve  hours  only, 
"we  have  no  time  to  lose.  Fortune  gives  me  but 
three  days ;  if  we  do  not  profit  by  it,  we  are  lost." 

The  admiral  was  forced  to  yield,  happily  for  his 
fleet ;  for  Nelson,  not  having  found  them  in  the 
straits  where  he  sought  them,  delayed  not  an  instant 
in  returning  to  Alexandria.  But  it  was  too  late ; 
the  promptitude  of  Bonaparte  had  saved  the  French 
arm} ,  the  whole  of  which  had  been  landed.  The 
disembarkation  took  place  at  one  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  2d  of  July,  at  Marabout,  three 
leagues  from  Alexandria.  They  marched  imme- 
diately upon  this  town,  and  scaled  the  ramparts. 


Gilbert  iGirioft 
BATTLE    OF    THE   PYRAMIDS. 


BATTLE    OF    THE    PYRAMIDS.  51 

Kleber,  who  commanded  the  attack,  was  wounded 
in  the  head.  This  conquest  was  achieved  with  little 
effort ,  and  was  not  followed  with  any  excess ;  there 
was   ieither  pillage  nor  murder  in  Alexandria. 

Bonaparte  leaving  Kleber  in  command  of  Alex- 
andria, quitted  that  place  on  the  7th  of  July,  taking 
the  road  to  Dumanhour,  across  the  desert,  where 
hunger,  thirst,  and  an  overpowering  heat,  caused 
the  army  to  endure  unheard-of  sufferings,  under 
which  many  of  the  soldiers  perished.  He  continued 
his  march  towards  Cairo,  and  in  four  days  he  had 
beaten  the  Mamelukes  at  Rahmaniah  and  destroyed 
the  flotilla  and  cavalry  of  the  Beys  at  Chebreisse. 
In  this  last  action,  the  General-in-chief  marshalled 
his  army  into  square  battalions,  against  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  which  was  quite  disconcerted,  despite  the 
boldness  of  its  attacks,  and  the  impetuosity  of  its 
courage.  At  the  commencement  of  this  affair, 
Peree,  attacked  by  a  superior  force,  changed  a 
perilous  position  into  the  most  brilliant  success. 
The  savans,  Monge  and  Berthollet,  rendered  essen- 
tial service,  by  fighting  the  enemy  in  person. 

At  the  moment  of  giving  battle  to  Murad  Bey 
at  the  foot  of  the  Pyramids,  Bonaparte,  pointing  to 
these  ancient  and  gigantic  monuments,  exclaimed : 
"Soldiers,  you  are  about  to  fight  the  rulers  of 
Egypt ;  reflect  that  from  these  monuments  you  are 
contemplated  by  forty  centuries." 

This  battle,  fought  July  21st,  1798,  received  the 
name  of  Embabeh,  from  the  village  near  whicli  it 


52  FRENCH    FLEET    DESTROYED. 

was  fought.  The  Mamelukes  were  overcome  after 
an  obstinate  contest,  which  lasted  nineteen  hours. 

Bonaparte  entered  the  capital  of  Egypt  on  the 
24th  of  July. 

Terrified  by  his  late  defeat,  Murad  Bey  fled  into 
Upper  Egypt,  where  he  was  pursued  by  Desaix. 
Napoleon,  in  the  meantime,  occupied  himself  at 
Cairo,  in  forming  a  regular  administration  for  the 
Egyptian  provinces.  But  Ibrahim  Bey,  who  had 
arrived  in  Syria,  obliged  the  conquering  legislator 
to  quit  his  pacific  labours  and  return  to  the  fight. 
Bonaparte  encountered  and  beat  him  at  Saleheyh. 
The  brave  Sulkowsky  was  wounded  in  this  affair. 

The  joy  of  the  new  triumph  was  soon  disturbed 
by  the  most  deplorable  news.  Kleber  announced 
to  Bonaparte,  by  a  despatch,  that  Nelson  had  de- 
stroyed the  French  fleet  at  Aboukir,  after  a  despe- 
rate struggle.  As  soon  as  the  knowledge  of  this 
catastrophe  was  spread  in  the  army,  great  discon- 
tent and  consternation  prevailed.  The  soldiers  and 
generals  who  had  been  disgusted  and  uneasy  on 
their  first  arrival  in  Egypt,  felt  more  severely  than 
ever  their  situation,  and  frequently  gave  vent  tG 
their  feelings  in  loud  murmurs.  Napoleon,  seeing 
at  a  glance  all  the  enormity  of  this  disaster,  appeared 
at  first  overwhelmed  by  it,  and  when  told  that  the 
Directory  would  doubtless  hasten  to  repair  the  mis- 
fortune, he  hastily  exclaimed  :  "  Your  Directory  ! 
they  are  a  mass  of — ,  they  envy  and  hate  me;  and 
will  leave  me  here  to  perish.     Do  you  not  see  all 


NAPOLEON    IN    EGYPT.  53 

those  figures?"  he  added,  pointing  to  his  staff-offi- 
cers, "how  long  will  they  remain  by  me?" 

But  his  great  soul  was  not  to  be/  cast  down,  and 
arousing  himself,  he  exclaimed  with  an  heroic  re- 
signation, "  If  it  must  he  so,  then,  we  will  remain 
here,  or,  like  the  ancients,  we  will  leave  it  as  heroes." 

From  this  time  Bonaparte  occupied  himself  with 
indefatigable  ardour  and  activity  in  the  civil  or- 
ganization of  Egypt.  He  felt  more  than  ever  the 
necessity  of  conciliating  the  inhabitants  of  the  coun- 
try, and  of  forming  lasting  establishments.  One 
Ol  his  first  and  principal  creations,  was  an  Institute 
on  the  plan  of  that  of  Paris.  He  divided  it  into 
four  classes : — mathematics,  physic,  political  econo- 
my, literature,  and  the  fine  arts.  Monge  was  ap- 
pointed president,  and  Bonaparte  conferred  on  him- 
self the  title  of  vice-president.  The  installation 
of  this  body  took  place  with  great,  solemnity.  It 
was  there  that  the  immortal  warrior  confirmed  his 
promise  to  the  head  of  the  Institute  of  France,  not 
to  be  proud  of  any  conquests  but  those  he  obtained 
over  ignorance ;  and  until  the  progress  of  his  arms 
was  identified  with  the  progress  of  enlightenment. 

Bonaparte,  already  popular  among  the  Mussul- 
mans, who  called  him  the  sultan  Kebir  (the  father 
of  fire),  was  admitted  and  invited  by  them  to  all 
their  festivals. 

It  was  thus  that  he  assisted,  but  without  presiding, 
as  was  believed,  at  those  of  the  overflowing  of  the 
Nile,  and  the  anniversary  of  the  birth  of  Mahomet. 


54  INSURRECTION    IN    CAIRO. 

The  respect  which  he  showed  for  the  religion  of 
the  Prophet  on  all  occasions,  contributed  not  a  little 
in  making  his  name  and  authority  respected  by  the 
Egyptians.  Some  have  affected  to  discover  a  sort 
of  sympathy  for  Islamism  in  his  conduct,  which 
displayed  nothing  more  than  the  skilful  politician. 
Bonaparte  was  neither  Mussulman  nor  Christian  ; 
himself  and  his  army  represented  in  Egypt  the 
French  philosophy,  the  tolerating  scepticism,  and 
the  religious  indifference  of  the  eighteenth  century. 
But  in  the  absence  of  positive  religion  in  his  mind, 
he  nourished  a  vague  religion  in  his  soul. 

The  sheicks,  in  gratitude  for  the  part  which 
Bonaparte  had  taken  at  their  festivals,  joined  at 
least  in  appearance  in  the  rejoicings  of  the  French 
army ;  they  made  the  grand  mosque  resound  with 
songs  of  gladness ;  they  prayed  to  the  great  Allah, 
"to  bless  the  favourite  of  Victory,  and  to  let  the 
brave  army  of  the  West  prosper." 

In  the  midst  of  these  amicable  demonstrations, 
the  chiefs  of  the  Mamelukes,  in  alliance  with  Eng- 
land, Ibrahim  and  Murad-Bey,  fomented  an  insur- 
rection, which  was  not  slow  in  breaking  out  even 
in  the  capital  of  Egypt.  Bonaparte  was  then  at 
Old  Cairo ;  as  soon  as  he  was  informed  of  what 
was  passing,  he  hastened  to  return  to  his  head- 
quarters. The  streets  of  Cairo  were  quickly  cleared 
by  the  French  troops,  who  compelled  the  rebels  to 
lake  refuge  in  the  grand  mosque,  where  they  were 
soon  fired  upon  by  the  artillery.    They  had  refused 


NAPOLEON    VISITS    SUEZ.  55 

to  capitulate,  but  the  thunder  of  the  cannon  taking 
effect  on  their  superstitious  imaginations,  rendered 
them  more  tractable.  Napoleon,  h6wever,  refused 
their  tardy  propositions.  "  The  time  for  mercy  is 
gone  by,"  said  he,  "  you  have  begun,  it  is  for  me  to 
finish."  The  doors  of  the  mosque  were  immediately 
forced,  and  the  blood  of  the  Turks  flowed  in  abund 
ance.  Bonaparte  had  to  avenge,  among  others,  the 
death  of  General  Dupois,  governor  of  the  place, 
and  that  of  the  brave  Sulkowsky,  for  whom  he  had 
entertained  great  regard.  This  revolt  took  place 
October  21st,  1798. 

British  influence,  which  had  instigated  the  sedition 
of  Cairo,  and  the  insurrection  throughout  Egypt, 
succeeded  also  in  rousing  the  divan  of  Constantino- 
ple to  acts  of  hostility  against  France.  A  manifesto 
of  the  Grand  Seignior,  filled  with  imprecations  and 
invectives,  devoted  the  flag  of  the  republic  to  igno- 
miny, and  its  soldiers  to  extermination.  Bonaparte 
replied  to  these  outrages  and  provocations  by  a 
proclamation,  which  terminated  thus: — "The  most 
religious  of  the  Prophets  has  said,  '  Sedition  has 
fallen  asleep,  cursed  be  he  that  shall  awaken  it!'" 

He  went  shortly  after  to  Suez  to  visit  the  traces 
of  the  ancient  canal  which  connected  the  waters 
of  the  Nile  with  the  Red  Sea.  Monge  and  Ber- 
thollet  accompanied  him;  —  wishing  to  visit  the 
sources  of  the  Moise,  he  nearly  became  a  victim 
to  his  curiosity  by  losing  his  way  in  the  dark,  just 
as  the  tide  was  coming  in  ;    "I  ran  the  danger  of 


56  BONAPARTE    CROSSES    THE    DESERT. 

perishing  like  Pharaoh,"  said  he,  "which  would  not 
have  failed  to  have  furnished  all  the  preachers  of 
Christianity  with  a  magnificent  text  against  me ! " 

The  monks  of  Mount  Sinai,  knowing  that  he 
was  in  their  neighbourhood,  sent  him  a  deputation 
requesting  he  would  write  his  name  upon  their  re- 
gister, as  was  done  by  Ali,  Saladin,  Ibrahim,  &c. 
Napoleon  did  not  refuse  them  a  favour  which  flat- 
tered his  vanity,  and  his  passion  for  celebrity. 

However,  Djezzar  Pacha  had  taken  possession 
of  the  fort  of  El-Arish,  in  Syria.  Napoleon,  who 
had  meditated  for  some  time  a  campaign  in  that 
province,  resolved  immediately  to  execute  his  design. 
The  news  of  the  success  of  Djezzar  had  reached 
him  at  Suez ;  and  he  hastened  his  return  to  Cairo, 
to  take  troops  necessary  for  the  expedition,  and 
after  having  assured  the  tranquillity  and  submission 
of  that  capital,  by  the  nocturnal  sacrifice  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  people,  who  had  figured  in  the  late 
revolt,  he  quitted  Egypt,  and  proceeded  to  Asia. 
The  desert  was  now  before  him:  he  crossed  it 
mounted  upon  a  dromedary,  which  he  found  resisted 
the  heat  and  fatigue  far  better  than  his  horses.  The 
vanguard  having  strayed,  he  did  not  meet  with  them 
until  they  were  giving  themselves  up  to  despair,  and 
sinking  with  fatigue  or  dying  with  thirst.  Bona- 
parte announced  supplies  of  water  and  food  to  the 
unfortunate  soldiers.  "  But  if  all  that  has  been 
delayed,  had  been  delayed  longer,"  said  he  to  them, 
u  would  that  have  been  a  reason  for  murmuring,  or 


ASSAULT    OF    JAFFA.  57 

failing  in  courage  ?   No,  soldiers,  learn  to  die  with 
honour."  / 

Bonaparte  arrived  before  El-Arish  in  the  middle 
of  February.  This  fort  capitulated  on  the  16th, 
after  a  complete  rout  of  the  Mamelukes ;  and,  six 
days  after,  Gaza  opened  her  gates.  When  near 
Jerusalem,  Bonaparte,  on  being  asked  if  he  did  not 
wish  to  pass  by  that  town,  replied  quickly ;  "  Oh  ! 
no !  Jerusalem  is  not  in  my  line  of  operations ;  I 
do  not  wish  to  have  anything  to  do  with  the  moun- 
taineers in  difficult  passages;  and  on  the  other  hand 
I  should  be  assailed  by  a  numerous  cavalry.  I  am 
not  ambitious  of  the  fate  of  Cassius."  On  the  6th 
of  March,  Jaffa  was  carried  by  assault,  and  aban- 
doned to  pillage  and  massacre.  Bonaparte  sent  his 
aides-de-camp,  Beauharnais  and  Croisier,  to  appease 
the  fury  of  the  soldiers.  They  arrived  in  time  to 
save  the  lives  of  four  thousand  Arnauts,  or  Alba- 
nians, who  formed  part  of  the  garrison,  and  who 
had  escaped  the  carnage  by  taking  refuge  in  the 
vast  caravansaries.  When  the  general-in-chief 
saw  the  number  of  prisoners,  he  exclaimed:  "What 
am  I  to  do  with  them  ?  have  I  provisions  to  feed 
them,  or  ships  to  send  them  to  France  or  Egypt  ? 
what  is  to  become  of  them?"  The  aides-de-camp 
excused  themselves  on  account  of  the  danger  thev 
would  have  incurred  by  refusing  to  capitulate,  and 
likewise  reminding  Bonaparte  of  the  humane  mis- 
sion which  he  had  confided  to  them.  "  Yes,  un- 
doubtedly," he  replied,  "  for  women,  children,  and 


58  THE    PLAGUE. 

old  men,  but  not  for  armed  soldiers;  you  should 
have  killed  these  unfortunates,  and  not  brought 
them  to  me.  What  would  you  have  me  do  with 
them  ? "  He  deliberated  for  three  days  on  the  lot 
of  these  ill-tated  people,  in  hope  that  the  sea  might 
bring  him  some  vessels  to  get  rid  of  his  prison- 
ers, without  compelling  him  to  shed  more  blood. 
But  the  murmurs  of  the  army  did  not  permit  him 
to  delay  any  longer  a  measure,  which  inspired  him 
with  the  greatest  repugnance.  The  order  for 
shooting  the  Arnauts  and  Albanians  was  given  on 
the  10th  of  March. 

The  French  army  had  brought  into  Syria  the 
germ  of  the  plague ;  it  developed  itself  at  the  siege 
of  Jaffa,  and  became  every  day  more  ravaging. 
Bonaparte  said  of  the  adjutant-general  Gresieux, 
who  would  not  touch  any  one,  in  order  to  guard 
himself  from  the  contagion :  "  If  he  is  afraid  of  the 
plague,  he  will  die  of  it."  His  prediction  was  ac- 
complished at  the  siege  of  Acre. 

It  was  on  the  16th  of  March  that  Bonaparte  ar- 
rived before  that  place,  where  he  met  with  a  more 
vigorous  resistance  than  he  had  expected. 

During  the  siege  of  Acre,  the  celebrated  battle 
of  Mount  Tabor  was  gained,  where  Kleber,  attacked 
and  surrounded  by  twelve  thousand  horsemen,  and 
as  many  foot,  made  the  most  heroic  resistance  with 
three  thousand  foot  soldiers.  Bonaparte,  informed 
of  the  strength  of  the  enemy,  set  off  with  a  division 
to  support  Kleber.     Arrived  at  the  field  of  battle, 


BONAPARTE  RETIRES  FROM  JAFFA.        59 

lie  disposed  his  division  in  two  squares,  so  as  to 
form  an  equilateral  triangle  with  the  square  of  Kle- 
ber,  thus  placing  the  enemy  between  them.  The 
terrible  fire  which  then  proceeded  from  the  extremi- 
ties of  this  triangle,  made  the  Mamelukes  fall  back 
upon  themselves,  and  dispersed  them  in  all  direc- 
tions, leaving  the  plain  covered  with  dead  bodies. 
This  army,  which  the  inhabitants  said  was  as 
numerous  as  the  stars  of  the  firmament,  and  the 
sands  of  the  sea-shore,  was  destroyed  by  six  thou- 
sand French. 

After  a  siege  of  two  months,  Napoleon,  seeing 
his  little  army  enfeebled  every  day  by  the  ravages 
of  the  plague,  and  by  the  frequent  encounters  which 
ihey  were  obliged  to  sustain  against  an  intrepid 
garrison,  commanded  by  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  decided 
upon  returning  to  Egypt.  All  his  vast  projects 
with  respect  to  the  East,  which  had  carried  his 
ambitious  imagination,  sometimes  to  the  Indus, 
sometimes  to  the  Bosphorus,  abandoned  him  in  this 
moment ;  it  was  this  which  caused  him  afterwards 
to  say  that,  "  If  Acre  had  fallen,  it  would  have 
changed  the  face  of  the  globe:  —  the  fate  of  the 
East  depended  on  this  little  paltry  town." 

At  Jaffa,  where  they  arrived  on  the  24th,  the 
hospitals  were  filled  with  sick ;  and  fever  raged 
with  the  greatest  fury.  The  general-in-chief  visited 
these  unfortunate  men ;  he  deeply  compassionated 
their  sufferings,  and  appeared  greatly  affected  by 
so  melancholy  a  spectacle.     The  order  was  given 


60  DISORDERS    IN    FRANCE. 

for  them  to  be  moved ;  but  of  these  so  many  were 
sick  of  the  plague,  according  to  M.  de  Bourrienne, 
upwards  of  sixty,  and  among  them  seven  or  eight 
so  severely  afflicted,  says  the  Memorial  of  St.  He- 
lena, that  they  could  not  live  above  four-and-twenty 
hours.  What  was  to  be  done  with  these  expiring 
soldiers  ?  Bonaparte  hesitated ;  but  was  told  that 
many  of  them  requested  instant  death ;  that  their 
contact  might  be  fatal  to  the  army,  and  that  it 
would  be,  at  the  same  time,  an  act  of  prudence  and 
charity  to  hasten  their  death  by  a  few  hours.  It  is 
almost  certain  that  a  soporific  potion  was  adminis- 
tered to  them. 

On  approaching  Cairo,  Bonaparte  took  care  to 
order  that  a  triumphal  reception  should  be  prepared 
for  him  in  this  capital,  in  order  to  destroy  any  dis- 
heartening impression  the  issue  of  the  expedition 
into  Syria  might  create.  At  Cairo,  he  learned,  by 
the  journals,  the  events  of  the  30th  Prairial,  and 
the  disturbed  situation  of  the  republic.  Anarchy 
reigned  at  home ;  a  second  forced  loan  had  excited 
the  indignation  of  the  middling  classes ;  whilst  the 
odious  law  of  hostages,  which  rendered  the  rela- 
tives of  emigrants  responsible  for  the  outrages 
committed  by  the  Chouans,  once  more  armed  the 
royalists  of  the  west  and  south  against  the  Direc- 
tory. Italy,  with  the  exception  of  Genoa,  was  lost. 
Joubert  had  been  killed  at  the  bloody  battle  of  Novi, 
gained  by  Suwarrow;  and  the  allies  were  advancing 
on  the  French  frontiers,  through  Holland  and  Swit- 
zerland,— where  they  were  arrested  by  Brune  and 


NAPOLEON    RETURNS    TO    FRANCE. 


61 


Massena.  Informed  of  this  condition  of  things, 
Bonaparte  determined  to  overthrow  the  Direc- 
torial government,  —  and  to  repair,  at  once,  to 
France, — whither  he  was  preceded  by  the  intelli- 
gence of  a  new  and  brilliant  victory.  Eighteen 
thousand  Turks  having  landed  in  the  bay  of  Abou- 
kir,  Bonaparte,  supported  by  Murat,  Lannes,  and 
Bessieres,  fell  upon  this  army,  and  annihilated  it. 
Immediately  after  this  victory,  he  set  out,  leaving 
Kleber  in  command  of  the  army  of  Egypt ;  crossed 
the  Mediterranean  in  the  frigate  Le  Muiron ;  — 
escaped,  as  by  a  miracle,  from  the  English  fleet; 
and  landed  in  the  Gulf  of  Frejus,  on  the  9th  of 
October,  1799, — a  few  days  after  the  celebrated 
victories  of  Zurich  and  Berghen,  gained,  the  first 
over  the  Austrians,  by  Massena,  and  the  second  by 
general  Brune,  over  the  duke  of  York.  Bonaparte 
traversed  France  as  a  conqueror,  and  was  received 
with  enthusiasm  by  the  masses  of  the  moderate 
party,  in  Paris. 


62 


BONAPARTE    IN    PARIS. 


CHAPTER   IX. 


THE     EIGHTEENTH     BRUMAIRE 


ITHERTO,  Bonaparte  had  refrained 
from  attaching  himself  to  any  system. 
Affecting  great  simplicity,  and  occu- 
pying modest  apartments  in  the  Rue 
Chantereine,  he  saw  himself  courted 
hy  the  heads  of  each  party,  and  de- 
ceived them  all.  Sieves  dreaded  him;  but  the  sup- 
port of  a  military  chief  was  essential  to  the  execu- 
tion of  his  designs.  Bonaparte  was  in  a  condition 
to  aid  him,  and,  in  the  end,  Sieyes  and  he  came  to 
an  understanding.  Their  object  was  to  overthrow 
the  constitution;  and  with  this  view  the  generals, 
with  the  exception  of  Bernadotte,  were  gained  over, 
— as  was,  also,  the  garrison  of  Paris.  On  the  1 8th 
Brumaire,  on  the  demand  of  Regnier,  one  of  the 
conspirators,  the  council  of  the  anciens  declared, 
that,  in  virtue  of  the  right  which  the  constitution 
gave  it,  it  transferred  the  legislative  body  to  Saint- 
Cloud,  under  the  pretext  that  its  deliberations  would, 
there,  be  more  free.  Bonaparte  was  charged  with 
the  execution  of  this  measure,  and  invested  with 
the  military  command  of  the  division  of  Paris.  He 
immediately   attacked   the  Directory  by  speeches 


EIGHTEENTH    BRUMAI£E.  63 

and  by  proclamations.  i  What,'  said  he,  ;  have  you 
done  with  that  France,  which  I  left  to  you  so 
covered  with  glory  ?  I  left  with  you  peace,  and  I 
return  to  find  war; — I  left  victories,  and  I  find  but 
disasters.  What  have  you  done  with  a  hundred 
thousand  Frenchmen  of  my  acquaintance — the 
companions  of  my  fame  ? — they  are  dead.'  In  this 
manner,  while  accusing  his  adversaries,  he  con- 
trived to  insinuate  his  own  vast  importance.  On 
the  same  day,  Sieves  and  Roger-Ducos  repaired  to 
the  Tuilleries,  and  laid  down  their  authority.  Their 
three  colleagues  would  have  resisted,  but  their  own 
guard  refused  obedience  to  them.  Barras,  losing 
all  hope,  sent  in  his  resignation;  —  Moulins  and 
Gohier  were  detained  prisoners :  and  the  struggle 
was  now  to  commence  between  Bonaparte  and  the 
council  of  the  cinq-cents. 

On  the  19th  Brumaire,  the  legislative  body  re- 
paired to  Saint-Cloud,  accompanied  by  an  imposing 
armed  force.  Bonaparte  presented  himself,  first, 
before  the  council  of  the  anciens  ;  and  being  sum- 
moned to  take  the  constitutional  oath,  he  declared 
that  the  constitution  was  vicious,  and  the  Directory 
incapable,  and  appealed  to  his  companions  in  arms. 
From  thence,  he  repaired  to  the  council  of  the  cinq- 
cents,  which  sat  in  the  Orangery,  and  where  the 
agitation  was,  already,  at  its  height.  His  presence 
raised  a  violent  storm: — 'Outlaw  him  !  Down  with 
the  dictator!'  resounded  on  every  side.  Accus- 
tomed to  brave  an  enemy's  fire  rather  than  the 


64  EIGHTEENTH    BRUMAIRE. 

menaces  of  a  deliberative  assembly,  Bonaparte 
grew  pale  and  agitated,  and  was  hurried  away  by 
the  grenadiers  who  formed  his  escort.  The  tumult 
continued  to  rage  in  the  chamber ;  where  Lucien, 
the  brother  of  Napoleon,  presided,  and  attempted 
his  defence.  On  all  sides,  the  outlawry  of  the 
tyrant  was  loudly  called  for;  and  Lucien,  being 
required  to  put  the  question  to  the  vote,  quitted  the 
chair,  and  divested  himself  of  the  insignia  of  the 
magistracy.  Bonaparte  had  him  carried  from  the 
hall ;  and  both  brothers,  mounting  on  horseback, 
harangued  the  soldiers, — one  as  the  conqueror  of 
Italy  and  Egypt,  and  the  other  as  president  of  a 
factious  assembly.  The  enthusiasm  of  the  troops 
broke  loudly  forth ;  and  Bonaparte,  addressing 
them,  exclaimed :  — '  Soldiers  !  can  I  reckon  upon 
you?' — 'Yes!  yes!'  resounded  on  all  sides;  and 
Bonaparte  immediately  ordered  the  council  of  cinq- 
cents  to  be  expelled.  A  troop  of  grenadiers  entered 
the  hall,  under  the  command  of  Murat, — who  said  • 
— '  In  the  name  of  general  Bonaparte,  the  legisla- 
tive body  is  dissolved.  Let  all  good  citizens  retire! 
— Grenadiers,  advance !'  The  shouts  of  indignation 
which  arose  in  answer  were  drowned  in  the  roll  of 
the  drums :  (the  grenadiers  advanced,  and  the  depu- 
ties fled  before  them,  escaping  by  the  windows, 
amid  cries  of  Vive  la  republique  !  Freedom  of  re- 
presentation was,  on  that  day,  at  an  end ;  and  of 
the  French  republic  there  now  remained  nothing 
but  the  name. 


DEFERENCE    TO    BONAPARTE. 


65 


CHAPTER  X. 


THE     CONSULATE 


HE  revolution  of  the  18th  Brumaire 
was  followed  by  almost  universal  ap- 
probation. After  so  long  a  series  of 
shocks  and  lacerations,  the  nation, 
exhausted,  without  credit,  and  over- 
run by  anarchy,  felt  the  want  of  some 
central  power,  strongly  constituted,  and  wielded  by 
a  skilful  hand.  Every  citizen  flattered  himself  that 
he  saw  in  Bonaparte  the  man  of  his  own  party. 
The  royalists  lauded  him  as  a  second  Monk — the 
future  restorer  of  the  monarchy ;  the  moderate  re- 
publicans loved  him  as  a  hero  born  of  the  revolu- 
tion, and  anticipated  that,  by  his  means,  liberty  was 
about  to  be  established  on  solid  and  durable  foun- 
dations. Men  in  general  were  little  on  their  guard 
against  his  ambition ;  license  was,  at  that  period, 
an  object  of  more  alarm  than  despotism ;  and  no 
suspicion  was,  as  yet,  entertained  of  the  extent  to 
which  the  interests  of  liberty  were  about  to  be 
made  subordinate  to  those  of  his  own  greatness. 
This  illusion,  however,  was  one  of  short  duration. 
Those  members  of  the  two  councils  who  were 


C6  NAPOLEON    FIRST    CONSUL. 

accomplices  of  Bonaparte,  or  favourable  to  the  re- 
volution of  Brumaire,  hastened  to  establish  the  new 
government.  Three  consuls  were  appointed,  for 
ten  years, — Bonaparte,  Sieves,  and  Roger-Ducos. 
At  the  same  time,  two  legislative  commissions  were 
formed,  charged  with  the  preparation  of  the  con- 
stitution, and  the  arrangement  of  a  definite  order 
of  things.  The  first  acts  of  the  consular  govern- 
ment were  the  abolition  of  the  law  of  hostages,  and 
that  of  forced  loans.  Permission  was  given  to  the 
priests  to  return  to  France ;  and  arbitrary  and  rigor- 
ous measures  were  adopted  against  fifty-eight  ex- 
treme republicans.  The  absolute  character  of  Bo- 
naparte fully  disclosed  itself  in  the  discussion  of 
the  new  constitution.  Sieyes  had  prepared  a  plan, 
— which  Bonaparte  rejected,  retaining,  nevertheless, 
such  portions  thereof  as  were  calculated  to  serve 
his  ambitious  and  arbitrary  views.  The  great 
powers  of  state  created  by  him  were — a  consulate, 
which  had  the  executive  power,  and  the  initiative 
of  the  laws — a  tribunate,  whose  function  it  was  to 
discuss  them — a  legislative  body  commissioned  to 
pass  them — and,  finally,  a  senate,  specially  charged 
wTith  their  conservation. 

Bonaparte,  as  first  consul,  associated  to  himself 
as  second  and  third  consuls,  Cambaceres,  formerly 
a  member  of  the  Plain,  in  the  convention,  and  Le- 
brun,  anciently  the  colleague  of  the  chancellor 
Mapeou.  The  consuls  named,  at  once,  sixty  sena- 
tors, without  waiting  for  lists  of  parties  eligible; 


BATTLE    OF    MARENGO.  67 

and  these  senators  appointed  one  hundred  tribunes, 
and  three  hundred  legislators.  The  constitution 
of  the  year  8  was  submitted  to  the  acceptance  of 
the  people,  and  obtained  more  than  three  millions 
of  suffrages. 

In  compliance  with  the  general  wish,  Bonaparte 
made  overtures  of  peace  to  England ; — which  that 
power  refused,  inducing  Austria  to  persevere  in  the 
struggle ;  while  the  emperor  of  Russia,  Paul  I., 
swayed  by  a  chivalrous  admiration  of  Bonaparte, 
declared  himself  his  champion,  and  a  foe  to  the 
English.  The  first  consul  directed  all  the  forces 
of  the  republic  towards  the  Rhine  and  the  Alps, — 
Moreau  commanding  the  army  of  the  Rhine,  and 
Bonaparte,  himself,  that  of  Italy.  Field-marshal 
Melas,  with  a  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  men, 
occupied  that  country,  where  the  French  army  was, 
now,  reduced  to  twenty-five  thousand  men,  under 
the  command  of  Massena.  Bonaparte  crossed  the 
great  St.  Bernard,  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  re- 
serve, forty  thousand  strong ;  and,  after  a  brilliant 
victory,  won  by  his  advanced  guard,  at  Montebello, 
where  general  Lannes  covered  himself  with  glory, 
Bonaparte  gained,  on  the  14th  of  June,  1800,  the 
celebrated  battle  of  Marengo,  which  placed  the 
whole  of  Italy  at  his  feet, — after  a  brilliant  cam- 
paign of  only  forty  days.  Peace,  however,  was  not 
yet  attained,  as  a  consequence. 

The  first  consul  next  directed  all  his  efforts  to 
the   suppression   of  the  factions  which  raged  at 


68  INFERNAL    MACHINE. 

home.  Several  of  the  partisan  chiefs  he  gainea 
over;  and  gave  employment  to  many  proscribed 
persons,  such  as  Simeon,  Portalis,  and  Barbe-Mar- 
bois.  A  few  of  the  Vendean  leaders,  Chatillon, 
d'Autichamp,  Suzannet,  and  the  famous  Bernier, 
the  cure  of  Saint-L6,  had  already  made  their  peace, 
by  the  treaty  of  Mont-Lucon :  La  Prevalaye  and 
Bourmont  submitted,  Frotte  was  taken  and  shot, 
George  Cadoudal  capitulated, — and  the  war  in  the 
west  was  at  an  end. 

But  the  war  was  succeeded  by  conspiracies :  and 
Bonaparte  escaped,  as  by  miracle,  the  explosion  of 
an  infernal  machine,  in  the  Rue  Saint-Nicaise,  on 
3d  Nivose, — the  authors  of  which  were  the  royalists, 
though  Fouche,  the  minister  of  police,  in  the  first 
instance,  attributed  the  attempt  to  the  democrats. 
One  hundred  and  thirty  of  these  latter  were  in- 
stantly transported,  by  a  simple  decree  of  the  se- 
nate ;  but  the  real  conspirators  were  afterwards 
discovered,  and  special  military  tribunals  created 
for  their  trial.  The  despotism  of  Bonaparte  was 
conspicuous  in  these  illegal  measures :  and  it  was 
on  this  occasion  that  the  constitutional  party  sepa- 
rated itself  from  him,  and  commenced  its  strenuous 
opposition.  At  the  head  of  this  party  were,  in  the 
senate,  Lanjuinais,  Gregoire,  Garat,  and  Cabanis, 
and,  in  the  tribunate,  Isnard,  Daunou,  Chenier,  and 
Benjamin  Constant.  All  these  raised  their  voices 
against  the  arbitrary  proscriptions,  and  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  special  courts. 


TREATY    OF    AMIENS.  69 

The  victories  of  Moreau,  in  Germany,  and  more 
particularly  that  of  Hohenlinden,  accelerated  the 
conclusion  of  peace ;  which  was  signed,  at  Lune- 
ville,  on  the  8th  of  January,  1801,  betwixt  France, 
Austria,  and  the  empire.  This  treaty  guarantied 
to  the  republic  the  possession  of  Belgium,  and  of 
the  German  provinces  on  the  left  bank  of  the  Rhine. 
Separate  treaties  were  concluded  with  Rome,  Na- 
ples, Sardinia,  Portugal,  and  Bavaria,  as  well  as 
with  Russia, — which  latter  power  the  assassination 
of  Paul  I.  had  caused  to  fall  back  upon  the  English 
system :  and,  finally,  England  herself  felt  the  neces- 
sity of  momentarily  laying  down  her  arms.  Pitt, 
the  irreconcileable  enemy  of  the  revolution,  and 
head  of  the  English  cabinet,  was  replaced  in  the 
ministry  by  the  opposition  party ;  and  the  treaty 
of  Amiens,  signed  on  the  25th  of  March,  1802,  by 
England,  Spain,  and  the  Batavian  republic,  com- 
pleted the  pacification  of  Europe. 

Freed  from  all  other  foreign  cares,  Bonaparte 
attempted  the  subjection  of  the  island  of  St.  Do- 
mingo; which  had  revolted  against  its  white  rulers, 
and  was  governed  by  blacks,  with  the  celebrated 
Toussaint-Louverture  at  their  head.  Forty  thou- 
sand men,  under  general  Le  Clerc,  were  sent  to 
effect  this  conquest ;  but,  after  some  successes  in 
the  outset,  the  troops  were  decimated  by  sickness, 
and  St.  Domingo  irretrievably  lost.  Egypt  had,  in 
the  preceding  year,  been  torn  from  France,  by  the 
arms  of  England. 


70 

The  government  of  Bonaparte,  however,  ren 
dered,  at  this  time,  immense  services  to  the  state; 
and  the  labours  which  he  undertook  would,  alone, 
suffice  to  make  his  name  immortal.  The  roads, 
ports,  and  arsenals  of  the  kingdom  attracted  his 
attention,  and  occupied  his  care:  He  ordered  im- 
mense maritime  works  at  Flushing  and  Antwerp, 
re-organized  the  admirable  polytechnic  school, 
founded  under  the  convention,  developed  the  re- 
sources of  trade,  promoted  commerce,  and  declared 
himself  the  protector  of  private  interests.  A  civil 
code  which  he  propounded  at  this  period,  and  which 
appeared  in  1804,  was  a  monument  of  genius,  and 
became  the  model  of  legislation  throughout  Europe. 
At  the  same  time,  the  first  consul  occupied  himself 
as  actively  with  the  consolidation  of  his  own  power, 
as  with  the  public  prosperity.  He  fettered  the 
press, — caused  the  senate  to  select  the  most  ener- 
getic amongst  the  tribunes  of  the  people,  and  reduce 
their  number  to  eighty, — and  then  proceeded  to 
purify  the  legislative  body,  in  the  same  arbitrary 
manner.  Regarding  the  clergy  as  an  indispensable 
auxiliary  to  power,  he  used  every  means  of  gaining 
them  over  to  his  cause,  and  signed  a  concordat  with 
Pope  Pius  VII.,  which  established  nine  archbish- 
oprics and  forty-one  bishoprics  in  France.  He 
founded  the  order  of  the  legion  of  honour,  and  de- 
clared himself  its  head.  This  creation,  however, 
which  invaded  the  feeling  of  equality,  met  with  vio- 
let opposition,  in  the  public  mind,  as  well  as  from 


HE    CONSOLIDATES    HIS    POWER.  71 

all  the  great  bodies  of  the  state,  notwithstanding 
the  forcible  purification  which  they  had  undergone. 
It  was  adopted,  nevertheless :  and,  finally,  after 
having  obtained  the  prolongation  of  his  consulship 
for  ten  years  more,  he  procured  himself,  on  the  2d 
of  August,  1802,  to  be  appointed  consul  for  life,  by 
the  senate,  with  the  assent  of  the  people,  whose 
wishes  were  taken  by  means  of  public  registers. 
Two  days  afterwards,  the  constitution  of  the  year 
10  was  decreed  by  a  simple  act  of  the  senate.  By 
this  constitution,  the  people  were  finally  stripped 
of  all  remains  of  power ;  the  electors  were  for  life, 
and  the  first  consul  had  the  right  of  adding  to  their 
numbers.  To  the  senate  was  given  the  power  of 
changing  the  institutions,  suspending  the  functions 
of  the  jury,  placing  the  departments  out  of  the  pale 
of  the  constitution,  quashing  the  judgments  of  the 
tribunals,  and  dissolving  the  legislative  body  and 
the  tribunate.  The  number  of  tribunes  was  re- 
duced to  fifty;  and  the  council  of  state,  recon- 
structed by  Bonaparte,  received  a  more  vigorous 
organization,  and  attributes  more  extensive. 

Such  were  the  results  of  two  years'  labours;  and 
each  day  did  the  government  of  the  first  consul  de- 
part more  and  more  from  the  spirit  in  which  the 
revolution  had  been  accomplished.  But  men  were 
so  weary  of  anarchy — there  was  in  the  nation  so 
earnest  a  longing  after  order  and  security — the  re- 
collections of  the  reign  of  terror  acted  so  power- 
fully on  men's  minds — that  the  people,  at  all  times 


72  DUKE 

prompt  to  fly  into  extremes,  seconded  all  the  first 
consul's  ambitious  views,  and  sacrificed,  to  the 
interests  of  his  power,  those  of  the  liberty  which 
had  been  purchased  by  such  rivers  of  blood. 

The  peace  betwixt  Great  Britain  and  France  had 
been  little  more  than  a  suspension  of  arms ;  and 
fresh  differences  soon  armed  those  powers,  once 
more,  against  each  other.  Bonaparte  united  to  the 
French  territory  the  island  of  Elba,  and  Piedmont, 
and  occupied  the  states  of  Parma;  whilst  England 
persisted  in  keeping  possession  of  Malta,  and  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope.  On  both  sides,  preparations 
were  made  for  war ;  and  the  peace  was  definitively 
broken,  in  June,  1803.  The  coasts  of  the  two  seas 
bristled  with  batteries ;  England  called  into  action 
all  her  naval  force,  and  seven  French  armies  occu- 
pied, respectively,  Italy  and  the  camps  of  Bayonne, 
Saint-Malo,  Saint-Omer,  Bruges,  Boulogne,  and 
Holland. 

A  second,  and  formidable  conspiracy  was,  about 
the  same  time,  undertaken  against  the  first  consul, 
by  some  Chouan  and  royalist  chiefs,  having  at  their 
head  Pichegru  and  George  Cadoudal.  Moreau, 
too,  suffered  himself  to  be  drawn  in,  and  became 
an  accomplice.  The  conspiracy  was  discovered  in 
February,  1804.  Cadoudal  was  punished  by  death, 
Moreau  banished,  and  Pichegru  was  found  strangled 
in  his  prison.  To  the  list  of  the  condemned  was 
added  one  other  great  victim  : — a  squadron  of  cav- 
alry suddenly  carried  off  the  duke  d'Enghien,  the 
last  scion  of  the  house  of  Conde,  from  the  castle 


NAPOLEON  CROWNED  EMPEROR.         73 

of  Etteinheim,  in  the  grand  duchy  of  Baden.  Bo- 
naparte believed  him  to  be  an  accomplice  of  Piche- 
gru,  and  had,  no  doubt,  resolved  to  terrify  the  con- 
spirators by  a  dreadful  example.  The  young  prince, 
being  conducted  to  Vincennes,  was  there  precipi- 
tately tried  by  a  military  commission,  and  shot,  by 
night,  in  the  ditch  of  the  chateau.  This  crime 
threw  the  whole  of  France  into  a  sort  of  stupor ; 
and  all  the  glory  of  the  first  consul  was  unable  to 
efface  the  horror  which  it  everywhere  inspired.  In 
vain  did  Bonaparte,  at  a  later  period,  disclaim  its 
responsibility ;  it  remains  as  an  eternal  stain  upon 
his  memory. 

The  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  the  conspiracy 
of  Pichegru  contributed  to  assist  Bonaparte  in 
elevating  himself  from  the  consulate  to  the  empire. 
The  senate  were  induced  to  address  him,  praying 
that  he  would  govern  the  republic  under  the  name 
of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  with  the  title  of  here- 
ditary emperor.  Faithful  to  the  cause  of  liberty, 
Carnot  vainly  opposed  the  wishes  of  the  senate  and 
of  his  colleagues.  The  empire  was  proclaimed  on 
the  2d  Floreal,  of  the  year  12.  The  constitution 
underwent  still  further  modifications,  to  adapt  it  to 
the  new  form  of  government ;  the  sittings  of  the 
tribunate  became  secret,  and  all  unfettered  publicity 
was  destroyed.  The  clergy  sang  the  praises  of  the 
chief  in  whom  they  discovered  a  second  Cyrus. 
Pope  Pius  VII.  came  to  Paris ;  and,  on  the  2d  of 
December,  1804,  in  the  cathedral  of  Notre-Dame, 


74  POLICY    OF    NAPOLEON. 

surrounded  by  the  high  dignitaries  of  the  cnurch, 
and  in  presence  of  the  high  bodies  of  the  state,  he 
consecrated  the  new  dynasty.  Napoleon,  accom- 
panied by  the  empress  Josephine,  required  that  all 
the  ancient  usages  of  the  French  monarchy  should 
be  revived,  in  this  ceremony.  He  made  his  bro- 
thers, Joseph  and  Louis,  French  princes,  and  created 
eighteen  marshals  of  the  empire.  These  were  Ber- 
thier,  Murat,  Moncey,  Jourdan,  Massena,  Augereau, 
Bernadotte,  Soult,  Brune,  Lannes,  Mortier,  Ney, 
Davoust,  Bessieres,  Kellerman,  Lefebvre,  Perignon, 
and  Serrurier.  Napoleon,  then,  proceeded  to  sur- 
round himself  with  all  the  ordinary  array  of  courts; 
he  appointed  dignitaries  of  the  crown,  and  had  his 
chamberlains  and  pages.  At  the  same  time,  how- 
ever, while  he  sought  to  renew  around  the  throne 
the  forms  of  the  old  regime,  and  to  suspend  the 
liberties  of  the  people,  he,  yet,  respected  the  real 
and  substantial  conquests  of  the  revolution.  These 
were  the  division  of  properties,  the  depriving  the 
clergy  of  their  civil  character,  equality  in  the  eye 
of  the  law,  and  admissibility  for  all  into  all  public 
offices.  These  principles  are,  next  after  those  of 
morality  and  the  education  of  the  masses,  the  best 
foundations  upon  which  a  nation  can,  m  our  day, 
build  its  liberal  institutions ;  and  it  was  out  of  the 
maintenance  of  these  that  the  true  liberies  of  the 
French  people  were  destined,  at  a  later  period,  to 
flow, — when  it  was  no  longer  possible  to  impose 
upon  them  a  positive  despotism,  in  tb«  name  of 
military  glory. 


ANECDOTES.  75 


CHAPTER   XL 

ANECDOTES  OF  THE  EGYPTIAN   AND  ITALIAN  CAM- 
PAIGNS,  AND  OF  THE  CONSULATE. 

The  Restorer  of  the  City  of  Lyons. 

N  Bonaparte's  return  from  the  second 
campaign  of  Italy,  he  passed  through 
Lyons,  on  the  ninth  Messidor,  the 
eighth  year  of  the  republic.  It  was 
his  wish  to  continue  incognito,  in  order 
to  escape  the  honours  and  the  fetes 
intended  for  him ;  but  all  his  precautions  were  of 
no  avail ;  the  report  of  his  being  in  the  city  spread 
itself  in  all  directions,  and  the  populace  in  crowds 
appeared  in  the  streets,  on  the  quays,  in  the  prome- 
nades, and  mounted  on  the  house-tops,  crying :  "It 
is  Bonaparte  !  Long  live  Bonaparte ! "  these  ap- 
plauses being  prolonged  until  night,  with  which 
were  mingled  the  incessant  discharges  of  artillery. 
During  the  nights  of  the  ninth  and  tenth,  a 
bronze  medal  was  struck  in  haste  and  presented  to 
the  conqueror  of  Italy ;  and  on  the  morning  of  the 
last  mentioned  day,  he  repaired  to  the  Square  of 
Bellecour,  amidst  an  escort   of  upwards  of  fifty 


it)  ANECDOTES  OF 

thousand  Lyonese.  Upon  this  occasion  he  laid  the 
first  stone,  and  thus  commenced  the  rebuilding  of 
the  city,  which  had  been  almost  entirely  demolished, 
by  order  of  the  comedian,  Collot  D'Herbois.  Pre- 
vious to  the  depositing  of  the  stone,  he  took  it  in 
his  hand,  smiling,  and  assured  the  inhabitants  of 
Lyons,  that  this  Square  should  very  soon  recovei 
all  its  former  splendour,  and  that  the  manufactories 
of  Lyons,  which  were  then  reduced  to  four  thousand 
workmen,  should  speedily  be  augmented  to  twenty- 
five  thousand ;  after  which  he  deposited  the  medal, 
which  was  enclosed  in  a  leaden  case*,  beneath  the 
foundation  of  the  new  structure;  the  bronze  in 
question  bearing  this  inscription : 

To  Buonaparte 

The  Restorer  of  Lyons; 

Verninac  Prefect. 

In  the  name  of  the  grateful  Lyonese. 

On  the  other  side  appeared,  encircled  by  a  coro- 
net of  oak, 

Twice  Victor  at  Marengo, 

Conqueror  of  Italy. 

He  deposited  this  Stone 

The  10th  Messidor,  An.  VIII. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony,  Napoleon 
repaired  to  the  hotel  of  the  Prefect,  where  a  sump- 
tuous breakfast  was  prepared.   He  proved  as  amia- 


THE   BATTLE   OF    MARENGO. 


THE    ITALIAN    CAMPAIGN.  1  < 

ble  at  table,  as  he  was  terrible  in  the  field ;  aud  ?< 
was  justly  said  of  this  repast :  "  That  here  was 
Alexander  feasting  with  his  friends,  on  the  dai 
when  he  founded  Alexandria." 

Battle  of  Marengo. 

This  conflict  was  undoubtedly  that  in  which  Bo- 
naparte displayed  the  most  brilliant  proofs  of  mili- 
tary capacity ;  for  on  that  momentous  day,  he 
manifested  the  consummate  tactics  of  a  great  com- 
mander; neither  was  there  any  deficiency  of  those 
traits  of  heroism  which  history  always  loves  to 
record,  and  which  must  descend  to  the  remotest 
posterity.  It  was  during  this  battle,  which  might 
be  justly  termed  the  modern  Pharsalia,  that  Napo- 
leon preserved,  amidst  the  tumultuous  din  of  arms, 
and  an  army  almost  completely  routed,  that  cool- 
ness and  certain  dependence  upon  self,  which  were 
the  fruit  of  long  military  experience,  and  the  cha- 
racteristic of  the  truly  brave. 

As  soon  as  the  divisions  of  Lemonier  and  Desaix 
had  arrived,  Bonaparte  repaired  to  range  them  in 
order  for  battle ;  but,  as  the  enemy's  forces  were 
greatly  superior  in  number  to  those  of  the  French, 
the  latter  began  to  give  way,  and  retreat,  which, 
being  perceived  by  Napoleon,  he  gallopped  to  the 
front  of  the  ranks,  exclaiming  : — "  Frenchmen  ! 
remember  my  custom  is  to  sleep  upon  the  field  of 
battle." 


78  ANECDOTES    OF 

Bertbier  on  arriving  to  acquaint  him  that  his 
army  began  to  be  put  to  the  route,  he  made  this 
answer:  "You  do  not  announce  that,  general,  in 
cold  blood!" 

During  the  hottest  period  of  the  action,  news 
was  brought  to  Bonaparte  that  Desaix  was  killed, 
when  he  only  uttered  these  words :  "  Why  is  it  not 
permitted  me  to  weep ?"  The  deceased  wras  among 
those  generals  whom  he  held  in  the  highest  estima- 
tion. 

After  the  battle,  Bonaparte,  happening  to  meet  a 
great  number  of  the  wounded,  made  the  following 
remark  in  tones  of  the  deepest  affliction :  "  We 
cannot  but  regret  not  being  wounded  like  them,  in 
order  to  participate  in  their  sufferings." 

Napoleon  wounded  in  Italy  and  other  places. 

It  has  been  said  that  Bonaparte  has  never  been 
wounded.  This  is  not  the  fact,  for  Mr.  O'Meara 
says: — 

Napoleon  showed  me  the  marks  of  two  wounds; 
one  a  very  deep  cicatrice  above  the  left  knee,  which 
he  said  he  had  received  in  his  first  campaign  of 
Italy,  and  was  of  so  serious  a  nature,  that  the  sur- 
geons were  in  doubt  whether  it  might  not  be  ulti- 
mately necessary  to  amputate.  He  observed,  that 
when  he  was  wounded,  it  was  always  kept  a  secret, 
in  order  not  to  discourage  the  soldiers.  The  other 
was  on  the  toe,  and  had  been  received  at  EchmiihJ 


THE    ITALIAN    CAMPAIGN.  79 

"  At  the  siege  of  Acre,"  continued  he,  "  a  shell 
thrown  by  Sidney  Smith,  fell  at  my  feet.  Two  sol- 
diers, who  were  close  by,  seized  and  closely  em- 
braced me,  one  in  front,  and  one  on  the  other  side, 
and  made  a  rampart  of  their  bodies  for  me,  against 
the  effect  of  the  shell,  which  exploded,  and  over- 
whelmed us  with  sand.  We  sunk  into  the  hole 
formed  by  its  bursting ;  one  of  them  was  wounded. 
I  made  them  both  officers.  One  has  since  lost  a 
leg  at  Moscow,  and  commanded  at  Yincennes  when 
I  left  Paris.  When  he  was  summoned  by  the  Rus 
sians,  he  replied,  that  as  soon  as  they  sent  him  back 
the  leg  he  had  lost  at  Moscow,  he  would  surrender 
the  fortress.  Many  times  in  my  life,"  continued  he, 
"  have  I  been  saved  by  soldiers  and  officers  throw- 
ing themselves  before  me  when  I  was  in  the  most 
imminent  danger.  At  Areola,  when  I  was  advanc- 
ing, Colonel  Meuron,  my  aid-de-camp,  threw  him- 
self before  me,  covered  me  with  his  body,  and  re- 
ceived the  wound  which  was  destined  for  me.  He 
fell  at  my  feet,  and  his  blood  spouted  up  in  my  face. 
He  gave  his  life  to  preserve  mine.  Never,  yet,  I 
believe,  has  there  been  such  devotion  shown  by 
soldiers  as  mine  have  manifested  for  me.  In  all 
my  misfortunes  never  has  the  soldier,  even  when 
expiring,  been  wanting  to  me — never  has  man  been 
served  more  faithfully  by  his  troops.  With  the  last 
drop  of  blood  gushing  out  of  their  veins,  they  ex* 
claimed  ;Vive  l'Empereur !' " 


SO  ANECDOTES    OF 


His  Generosity  to  the  Veteran  General  Wurmser. 

For  several  days  after  the  decisive  actions, 
which  left  him  without  a  shadow  of  hope  of  relief, 
Wurmser  continued  the  defence  of  Mantua  in  a 
sullen  yet  honourable  despair,  natural  to  the  feel- 
ings of  a  gallant  veteran,  who,  to  the  last,  hesi- 
tated between  the  desire  to  resist,  and  the  sense 
that  resistance  was  absolutely  hopeless.  At  length 
he  sent  his  aid-de-camp,  Klenau,  to  the  head-quar- 
ters of  Serrurier,  who  commanded  the  blockade,  to 
treat  of  a  surrender.  Klenau  used  the  customary 
language  on  such  occasions.  He  expatiated  on  the 
means  which  Mantua  still  possessed  of  holding  out; 
but  said,  that,  as  Wurmser  doubted  whether  the 
place  could  be  relieved  in  time,  he  would  regulate 
his  conduct  as  to  immediate  submission,  or  farther 
defence,  according  to  the  conditions  of  surrender 
to  which  the  French  general  was  willing  to  admit 
him.  A  French  officer  of  distinction  was  present, 
muffled  in  his  cloak,  and  remaining  apart  from  the 
two  officers,  but  within  hearing  of  what  had  passed. 
When  their  discussion  was  finished,  this  unknown 
person  stepped  forward,  and,  taking  a  pen,  wrote 
down  the  conditions  of  surrender  to  which  Wurm- 
ser was  to  be  admitted — conditions  more  honoura- 
ble and  favourable  by  far  than  what  his  extremity 
could  have  exacted.  "  These,"  said  the  unknown 
officer  to  Klenau,    "  are  the  terms  which  Wurmser 


THE    ITALIAN    CAMPAIGN.  81 

may  accept  at  present,  and  which  will  be  equally 
tendered  to  him  at  any  period  when  he  finds  farther 
resistance  impossible.  We  are  aware  he  is  too 
much  a  man  of  honour  to  give  up  the  fortress  and 
city,  so  long  and  honourably  defended,  while  the 
means  of  resistance  remained  in  his  power.  If  he 
delay  accepting  the  conditions  for  a  week,  or  a 
month,  or  two  months,  they  shall  be  equally  his 
when  he  chooses  to  accept  them.  To-morrow  I 
pass  the  Po,  and  march  upon  Rome."  Klenau, 
perceiving  that  he  spoke  to  the  French  commander- 
in-chief,  frankly  admitted  that  the  garrison  could 
not  longer  delay  surrender,  having  scarce  three 
days'  provisions  unconsumed.  This  trait  of  gene- 
rosity towards  a  gallant  but  unfortunate  enemy, 
was  highly  honourable  to  Napoleon.  But  the 
young  victor  paid  a  still  more  delicate  and  noble- 
minded  compliment,  in  declining  to  be  personally 
present  when  the  veteran  Wurmser  had  the  mor- 
tification to  surrender  his  sword,  with  his  garrison 
of  twenty-thousand  men.  Such  self-denial  did  Na- 
poleon as  much  credit  nearly  as  his  victory.  His 
conduct  towards  Wurmser  may  be  justly  compared 
to  that  of  the  Black  Prince  to  his  royal  prisoner, 
King  John  of  France. 

Mount  St.  Bernard. 

The  campaigns  of  Italy,  under  the  Directory  and 
Consulate,  were  well  worth  all  the  imperial  battles 

F 


82  ANECDOTES    OF 

fought  in  the  days  of  France's  splendid  degradation. 
The  pass  of  Mount  St.  Bernard  stands  unrivalled 
in  modern  military  history.  The  cannons  were 
dragged  up  the  heights  by  sheer  strength  of  arm, 
by  efforts  almost  superhuman.  Pecuniary  motives 
for  exertion,  proffered  by  the  general,  were  rejected 
by  the  army.  The  soldiers,  one  by  one,  climbed 
through  the  crevices  of  the  ice-rock,  and  in  five 
hours  they  reached  the  convent  of  St.  Peter.  The 
descent  was  yet  more  perilous.  The  infantry  cut 
short  the  difficulty  by  sliding  on  their  backs  down 
the  ice.  "  The  first  consul  followed  their  example, 
and,  in  the  sight  of  his  army,  slided  down  a  height 
of  two  hundred  feet ! " 

Bonaparte,  before  his  departure  for  this  cam- 
paign, traced  a  slight  sketch  of  his  intended  opera- 
tions at  a  private  house.  In  this  plan,  Millissimo 
is  marked,  in  the  confidence  of  success,  as  being 
the  first  site  of  the  defeat  of  the  enemy.  "  I  shall 
drive,"  he  says,  "  the  Austrians  from  the  passage 
of  the  Tyrol ;"  and  he  finishes  the  sketch  with  these 
words:  "It  is  at  the  gates  of  Vienna,  that  I  shall 
give  you  peace."  Speaking  afterwards  of  his 
treaty  of  Millissimo,  he  said,  "this  was  the  strong- 
est sensation  of  my  life." 

His  Employment  of  Time, 

During  the  voyage  to  Egypt,  Bonaparte  was  con- 
tinually employed.     His  remarkable  sayings  to  the 


THE    EGYPTIAN    CAMPAIGN. 


83 


pupils  of  a  school  which  he  had  one  day  visited, 
"Young  people,  every  hour  of  time  lost,  is  a  chance 
of  misfortune  for  future  life,"  may  be  considered  as, 
in  some  measure,  forming  the  rule  of  his  own  con- 
duct. Perhaps  no  man  ever  better  understood  the 
value  of  time:  his  very  leisure  was  business.  If 
the  activity  of  his  mind  found  not  wherewithal  to 
exercise  itself  in  reality,  he  supplied  the  defect,  by 
giving  free  scope  to  his  imagination,  or  in  listening 
to  the  conversation  of  the  learned  men  attached  to 
the  expedition ;  for  he,  probably,  was  the  only  man 
in  the  fleet  who  never  experienced  ennui  for  a  single 
moment. 

A  Man  Overboard. 

In  a  long  voyage,  it  is  impossible  (says  Bour- 
rienne)  to  prevent  accidents  from  men  falling  over- 
board. This  occurrence  happened  several  times 
with  us,  from  the  croAvded  state  of  our  vessel.  On 
these  occasions,  it  was  strange  to  witness  the  in- 
stinctive force  of  humanity  in  the  bosom  of  one  so 
lavish  of  the  blood  of  his  fellow-creatures  on  the 
field  of  battle,  and  who  was  about  to  shed  torrents 
of  it  in  the  very  Egypt  whither  we  were  going. 
Whenever  a  man  fell  into  the  water,  the  command- 
er-in-chief had  no  rest  till  he  was  saved.  He  in- 
stantly ordered  the  ship  to  lay-to,  showed  the  most 
lively  uneasiness  till  the  unfortunate  was  recovered, 
and  ordered  me  to  recompense  liberally  those  most 


84  ANECDOTES    OF 

active  in  the  rescue.  Sailors  who  had  thus  distin- 
guished themselves,  when  guilty  of  some  breach 
of  discipline,  were  always  exempted  from  punish- 
ment. I  remember,  during  one  dark  night,  a  noise 
was  heard,  as  of  a  man  overboard.  Bonaparte  in- 
stantly gave  the  word  to  put  the  ship  about  till  the 
supposed  victim  should  be  rescued  from  inevitable 
death.  The  crew  hastened  from  all  quarters,  exer- 
tions were  redoubled,  and  at  length  we  fished  up — 
what?  The  victim  was — a  quarter  of  beef,  which 
had  slipped  from  a  noose  over  the  side.  How  did 
Bonaparte  act  ?  He  ordered  me  to  reward  the  sai- 
lors, who  had  exposed  themselves  on  this  occasion, 
more  liberally  than  usual:  "It  might  have  been  a 
man ;  and  these  brave  fellows  have  shown  neither 
less  zeal  nor  less  courage." 

His  Proclamation  before  landing  in  Egypt. 

"Soldiers! — You  are  about  to  undertake  a  con- 
quest, the  effects  of  which  upon  the  civilization  and 
commerce  of  the  world  are  incalculable.  You  will 
strike  a  blow,  the  surest  and  most  vital  which 
England  can  receive,  until  you  give  her  her  death- 
stroke.  We  shall  have  to  make  some  fatiguing 
marches;  to  engage  in  a  few  combats;  but  success 
will  crown  our  exertions.  The  destinies  are  fa- 
vourable. The  Mamelukes — retainers  of  England, 
tyrants  of  all  the  unfortunate  country — soon  after 
our  landing  shall  have  ceased  to  exist. 


THE    EGYPTIAN    CAMPAIGN.  85 

The  people  with  whom  we  are  about  to  be  con- 
nected are  Mahometans.  The  first  article  of  their 
faith  is  this:  —  "There  is  no  other  God  but  God, 
and  Mahomet  is  his  prophet."  Do  not  gainsay 
them ;  live  with  them  as  you  have  done  with  the 
Jews — with  the  Italians ;  pay  the  same  deference 
to  their  muftis  and  their  imaums,  as  you  have  paid 
to  the  rabbins  and  the  bishops ;  show  to  the  cere- 
monies prescribed  by  the  Koran,  and  to  the  mosques, 
the  same  tolerance  as  you  have  shown  to  the  con- 
vents and  the  synagogues — to  the  religion  of  Moses 
and  of  Jesus  Christ.  The  Roman  legions  protect 
all  religions.  You  will  find  here  usages  different 
from  those  of  Europe :  it  is  proper  that  you  habitu- 
ate yourselves  to  them. 

The  inhabitants  treat  their  women  differently 
from  us ;  but,  in  every  country,  he  who  violates  is 
a  monster.  Pillage  enriches  only  a  few;  it  dis- 
honours us,  destroys  our  resources,  and  renders 
enemies  those  whom  our  interest  requires  to  be 
friends.  The  first  city  we  approach  was  built  by 
Alexander ;  every  step  will  awaken  sublime  recol- 
lections, worthy  of  exciting  the  emulation  of 
Frenchmen/' 

To  this  proclamation  was  appended  an  order  of 
the  day,  consisting  of  twelve  articles,  prohibiting 
pillage,  as  also  every  species  of  violence,  and  con- 
taining directions  for  collecting  imposts  and  contri 
butions.  The  punishments  denounced  upon  delin- 
quents were — repairing  the  damages  inflicted,  two 


86  ANECDOTES    OF 

years  in  irons,  and  death.  Here  I  may  be  permitted 
a  reflection.  Passages  in  this  proclamation  have 
been  severely  animadverted  upon  as  contraiy  to  the 
doctrines  of  Christianity.  But  how  absurd,  to  have 
entered  Egypt  with  the  cross  in  one  hand,  and  the 
sword  in  the  other !  Policy  and  common  sense  re- 
quired us  to  respect  the  religion  of  the  inhabitants. 
Both  this  and  other  proclamations  produced  an 
excellent  effect. 

Disembarkation  of  the  French  Troops  in  Egypt. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  French  fleet  on  the  Egyptian 
coasts,  Napoleon  wished  the  troops  to  be  landed 
immediately ;  but  admiral  Bruyes  would  not  con- 
sent, being  afraid  of  the  sea,  then  agitated  by  a 
strong  west  wind ;  but  the  general  felt  the  value  of 
the  moments  which  passed.  He  saw  the  expedition 
exposed  on  the  coast,  and  Alexandria  in  arms,  pre- 
paring for  a  defence ;  and  he  wished  positively  to 
land  in  spite  of  the  violence  of  the  waves. 

The  fleet  accordingly  anchored :  and  during  the 
evening  and  part  of  the  night,  the  disembarkation 
took  place,  a  few  leagues  from  Alexandria,  near  a 
place  called  the  tower  of  Marabout. 

When  Napoleon  wished  to  execute  the  disem- 
barkation without  loss  of  time,  he  said  to  admiral 
Bruyes,  the  moment  he  quitted  the  Orient :  "  We 
must  exert  ourselves  to  open  the  port  of  Alexandria 
for  you,  with  the  least  possible  delay;  and  if  it  be 


THE    EGYPTIAN    CAMPAIGN.  87 

not  in  a  condition  to  receive  the  fleet,  we  must  place 
you  in  safety  elsewhere.  You  have  conducted  us 
successfully ;  your  task  is  over,  but  ours  only  com- 
mences."— "What!"  rejoined  the  brave  Bruyes, 
"do  you  take  us  for  common  carriers,  and  our  ships 
for  baggage- wagons  ?  " 

Napoleon* s  Alarm  on  his  arrival  at  Alexandria. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  French  expedition  in  the 
port  of  Alexandria,  the  resident  consul  was  imme- 
diately sent  for.  To  the  great  astonishment  of  his 
countrymen,  he  informed  them  that  the  English  fleet 
had  made  its  appearance  the  preceding  day  before 
the  port,  had  demanded  information  with  respect  to 
the  French  fleet,  and  had  then  continued  its  course 
towards  Alexandretta.  At  that  very  moment  the 
signal  for  vessels  of  war  was  made,  and  the  order 
of  battle  was  given ;  a  firm  belief  being  entertained 
that  the  English  fleet  was  at  hand. 

Napoleon  at  this  instant  gave  expression  to  the 
uneasiness  which  he  felt.  "Fortune,"  he  exclaimed, 
"why  hast  thou  favoured  us  so  long  to  abandon  us 
now,  when  former  success  only  adds  to  the  poig- 
nancy of  our  misfortune  ?  In  a  few  moments  Alex- 
andria would  have  been  ours,  and  the  whole  of  the 
transports  would  have  been  safe !" 

Happily  for  him,  the  signals  were  false;  the  ves- 
sels turned  out  to  be  the  French  frigates,  which  had 
fallen  behind,  and  not  the  English  fleet. 


S8  ANECDOTES    OF 


Gaiety  of  the  French  Soldiery. 

Nothing  could  exceed  the  gaiety  of  the  French 
Boldiery :  if  they  saw  a  young  conscript  sad  and 
dejected,  he  would  soon  be  laughed  and  bantered 
out  of  his  sadness.  Denon  relates,  that  when  the 
French  army,  under  Bonaparte,  arrived  off  the 
coast  of  Egypt,  and  saw  it  stretching  along  the 
horizon,  a  perfect  desert — not  a  tree,  nor  a  plant, 
nor  any  sign  of  a  human  habitation  to  be  dis- 
covered as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach  either  way — 
far  from  being  dispirited  at  this  dreary  prospect, 
one  of  the  soldiers  drew  a  comrade  to  the  side  of 
the  vessel,  and  pointing  to  it,  said,  "  Look  ye ! 
there  are  the  six  acres  which  have  been  decreed 
thee !"  alluding  to  a  promise  of  a  grant  of  land  to 
each  soldier,  on  the  expiration  of  his  service  in  the 
army. 

In  one  of  Bonaparte's  despatches,  he  thus  em- 
phatically expresses  himself  upon  the  subject: 
"  They  play  and  they  laugh  with  death ;  they  have 
now  become  completely  accustomed  to  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  which  they  hold  in  derision ;  nothing  can 
equal  their  intrepidity,  unless  it  be  the  gaiety  tes- 
tified during  their  forced  and  harassing  inarches ; 
for  they  sing  by  turns  in  honour  of  their  country 
and  their  mistresses.  When  arrived  at  the  bivouac, 
you  would  think,  at  least,  that  they  would  repose. 
Such,   however,  is  not  the  case ;    each   tells   his 


"THE    EGYPTIAN    CAMPAIGN.  89 

story,  or  forms  his  plan  of  operations  for  the  mor- 
row ;  and  it  is  frequently  ascertained  that  many  of 
them  have  made  a  just  calculation." 

Turkish   Humanity  towards   the   French  Army   in 
Egypt. 

When  Bonaparte  sailed  with  his  army  for  Egypt, 
d  number  of  the  most  eminent  of  the  French  literati 
accompanied  him,  in  order  to  make  research  into 
the  antiquities,  manners,  customs,  and  literature  of 
that  famous  country.  These  labours  they  executed 
with  the  most  astonishing  assiduity,  even  amidst 
all  the  dangers  of  war.  But  the  Institute  had  re- 
mained at  Cairo  only  a  month,  when  their  house 
was  pillaged,  in  a  general  insurrection  of  the  in- 
habitants 3  firing  was  heard  in  different  places,  and 
many  persons  belonging  to  the  Commission  of  Arts 
fell  a  sacrifice  to  the  fury  of  the  populace.  After 
considerable  slaughter,  however,  it  was  quelled  the 
second  day,  by  means  of  some  heavy  artillery. 
"  Though  the  populace,"  says  Denon,  "  the  devo- 
tees, and  some  of  the  great  people  of  Cairo  showed 
themselves  fanatical  and  cruel  in  this  revolt,  the 
middle  class  (which  is  in  all  countries  the  most 
accessible  to  reason  and  virtue)  was  perfectly  hu- 
mane and  generous  to  us,  notwithstanding  the  wide 
difference  of  manners,  religion,  and  language;  — 
whilst  from  the  galleries  of  the  minarets  murder 
was  devoutly  preached  up — whilst  the  streets  wero 


90  ANECDOTES    OF 

filled  with  death  and  carnage,  all  those  in  whose 
houses  any  Frenchmen  were  lodged,  were  eager  to 
save  them  by  concealment,  and  to  supply  and  an- 
ticipate all  their  wants.  An  elderly  woman,  in  the 
quarter  in  which  we  lodged,  gave  us  to  understand, 
that,  as  our  wall  was  but  weak,  if  we  were  attacked, 
we  had  only  to  throw  it  down,  and  seek  for  shelter 
in  her  harem :  a  neighbour,  without  being  asked, 
.sent  us  provisions  at  the  expense  of  his  own  store, 
when  no  food  was  to  be  purchased  in  the  town,  and 
every  thing  announced  approaching  famine ;  he 
even  removed  every  thing  from  before  our  house 
which  could  render  it  conspicuous  to  the  enemy, 
and  went  to  smoke  at  our  door,  as  if  it  were  his 
own,  in  order  to  deceive  any  who  might  attack  us. 
Two  young  persons,  who  were  pursued  in  the 
streets,  were  snatched  up  by  some  unknown  people, 
and  carried  into  a  house,  and,  whilst  they  were  fu- 
riously struggling  for  deliverance,  expecting  that 
they  were  destined  for  some  horrible  cruelty,  the 
kind  ravishers,  not  being  able  otherwise  to  convince 
them  of  the  hospitable  benevolence  of  their  inten- 
tions, delivered  up  to  them  their  own  children,  as 
pledges  of  their  sincerity. 

"  If  the  grave  Mussulman  represses  those  tokens 
of  sensibility,  which  other  nations  would  take  a 
pride  in  exhibiting,  it  is  in  order  to  preserve  the 
dignified  austerity  of  his  character." 


THE    EGYPTIAN    CAMPAIGN.  91 


The  Siege  of  Acre. 

This  celebrated  siege  began  on  the  20th  of  March, 
1 799.  It  was  during  its  progress  that  the  actions 
of  Canaan,  Nazareth,  Saffet,  and  Mount  Tabor 
were  fought.  The  latter  was  the  one  Kleber  ad- 
mired  so  much.  Bonaparte  sat  up  all  night  in  his 
tent,  with  the  officers  sleeping  around  him.  He  sat 
at  table  examining  maps  and  measuring  distances 
with  a  pair  of  compasses.  Every  now  and  then  he 
rose  up,  went  to  the  opening  of  the  tent,  either  to 
breathe  the  fresh  air,  or  as  if  to  see  how  the  night 
waned.  With  the  first  streak  of  light  he  woke  the 
officers,  and  by  ten  o'clock  he  had  beaten  the  Turks, 
when  Kleber  arrived  just  in  time  to  compliment  him 
on  his  victory. 

Towards  the  end  of  April  the  most  furious  con- 
tests took  place  daily  ;  sorties  were  made  with  va- 
rious success,  the  besieged  sometimes  carrying 
every  thing  before  them,  and  then  being  driven 
back  again  with  great  loss  and  disorder.  Dismay 
and  death  were  scattered  around.  On  the  first  of 
May  possession  was  obtained  at  peep  of  dawn  of 
the  most  salient  point  by  twenty  French  volunteers ; 
and  at  the  same  moment  the  English  and  French 
made  a  sortie,  which  was  briskly  repulsed  in  its 
turn,  and  several  hundreds  killed.  On  the  seventh 
the  town  received  a  reinforcement  of  fresh  troops. 
At  night  the  French  fought  their  way  through  the 


02  ANECDOTES    OF 

breach,  and  had  gained  a  footing  in  the  place,  when 
the  troops  which  had  landed  appeared  in  formidable 
numbers  to  renew  the  battle.  Rambaud  was  killed; 
and  a  great  many  fell  with  him.  Lannes  was 
wounded.  The  besieged  then  sallied  forth  by  every 
gate,  and  took  the  breach  in  rear,  but  they  were 
attacked  in  turn,  and  cut  off.  Every  thing  appeared 
so  favourable,  that  on  the  tenth,  at  two  in  the 
morning,  Napoleon  ordered  a  new  assault.  Gene- 
ral Dubois  was  killed  in  this  skirmish ;  and  on  ad- 
vancing, Djezzar's  house  and  all  the  avenues  were 
so  thronged  with  defenders,  that  the  soldiers  could 
not  pass  beyond  the  breach.  There  seemed  no 
hope  of  carrying  the  place  by  a  "  coup-de-main." 
The  French,  remote  as  they  were  from  France  and 
Egypt,  could  not  afford  fresh  losses :  they  had  al- 
ready twelve  hundred  wounded,  and  the  plague  was 
in  the  hospitals.  Accordingly,  on  the  twentieth,  the 
siege  was  raised.  The  resistance  made  was  no 
doubt  owing  to  the  spirit  and  bravery  of  the  gallant 
English  admiral,  Sir  Sidney  Smith.  The  attack 
was  obstinate  and  well-directed ;  and  there  was  a 
proportionable  activity,  courage,  and  readiness  of 
expedient  opposed  to  it.  A  spirit  like  Ariel  flamed 
on  every  part  of  the  walls,  and  a  master-hand  was 
discernible  in  all  the  operations.  Bonaparte  spoke 
highly  of  the  courage  and  character  of  Sir  Sidney 
Smith.  He  attributed  the  failure  of  the  attack  on 
Acre  to  his  taking  the  French  battering-train,  which 
was  on  board  some  small  vessels  in  the  harbour 


THE    EGYPTIAN    CAMPAIGN.  93 

Bonaparte,  until  this  period,  had  never  experienced 
any  reverses,  but  had  continually  proceeded  from 
triumph  to  triumph,  and  therefore  confidently  an- 
ticipated the  taking  of  St.  Jean  d  'Acre.  In  his 
letters  to  his  generals  in  Egypt,  he  fixed  the  twenty- 
fifth  of  April  for  the  accomplishment  of  that  event. 
He  reckoned  that  the  grand  assault  against  the 
tower  could  not  be  made  before  that  day  :  it  took 
place,  however,  twenty-four  hours  sooner.  "  The 
slightest  circumstances,"  said  he,  "  produce  the 
greatest  events ;  had  St.  Jean  d  'Acre  fallen,  I 
should  have  changed  the  face  of  the  world.  The 
fate  of  the  East  lay  in  that  small  town." 

His  Return  from  Egypt. 

When  the  news  of  his  arrival  reached  Marseilles, 
the  event  was  celebrated  with  a  general  illumination, 
bonfires,  and  other  demonstrations  of  joy. 

But  an  impulse  of  a  very  different  nature  seized 
the  minds  of  the  magistracy  of  Toulon.  It  was 
known  there  that  the  plague  had  made  considerable 
ravages  among  the  army  in  Egypt ;  and  when  the 
news  circulated  that  Bonaparte  had  landed  at 
Frejus,  and  proceeded  immediately  to  Paris,  with- 
out the  vessel  or  any  of  the  crew  having  been 
subjected  to  the  usual  quarantine,  couriers  were 
sent  after  him,  with  orders  not  to  stop  on  the  road 
upon  any  consideration  till  they  had  overtaken  him, 
and  to  bring  him  and  his  companions  back,  that 


94  ANECDOTES    OF 

they  might  be  put  into  quarantine.  But  Bonaparte 
had  got  so  much  the  start  of  them,  and  pursued  his 
journey  with  so  much  alacrity,  that  he  arrived  at 
Paris  long  before  them ;  and  the  memorable  events 
which  crowded  upon  each  other  from  the  moment 
of  his  arrival,  soon  turned  the  public  attention  from 
all  other  objects  to  fix  it  on  them  alone. 


His  Respect  for  the  Memory  of  Washington, 

When  Napoleon  was  installed  first  consul,  at  the 
palace  of  the  Tuileries,  where  every  thing  still 
breathed  the  recollection  of  its  ancient  kings, — it 
was  just  at  that  moment  he  learned  the  news  of  the 
death  of  Washington.  He  had  died  on  the  14th 
of  the  preceding  December,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight 
years,  at  his  seat  of  Mount  Vernon  in  Virginia,  hav- 
ing secured  the  independence  of  his  country  as  a  gene- 
ral, its  liberty  as  a  legislator,  and  its  prosperity  as 
a  magistrate.  What,  says  Hazlitt,  hindered  Bona- 
parte from  following  his  example  ?  Had  the  allied 
troops  been  removed  3000  miles  off,  on  the  other 
side  of  the  Atlantic,  had  the  French  been  a  colony 
of  English  settlers,  and  in  France  there  had  been  no 
palace  of  her  ancient  kings,  there  was  nothing  to 
prevent  it ! 

The  first  consul  did  not  neglect  this  opportunity 
of  showing  his  respect  to  the  character  of  the  hero 
of  American  liberty ;  his  death  was  announced  tc 


THE    CONSULATE.  95 

the  consular  guard,  and  to  all  the  troops   of  the 
republic  in  the  following  order  of  the  day : 

"  Washington  is  dead  !  This  great  man  fought 
against  tyranny ;  he  established  the  liberty  of  his 
country.  His  memory  must  always  be  dear  to  the 
French  people,  as  well  as  to  all  the  free  of  both 
worlds,  and  especially  to  the  French  soldiers,  who, 
like  him  and  his  American  troops,  fight  in  defence 
of  liberty  and  equality.  In  consequence,  the  first 
consul  has  ordered,  that  for  the  space  of  ten  days, 
black  crape  shall  be  hung  on  all  the  colours  and 
standards  of  the  republic." 


His  Conduct  in  the  Revolution  of  the   Eighteenth 
Brumaire,  1799. 

Napoleon  was  appointed  to  the  military  command 
in  Paris,  preparatory  to  dissolving  the  government ; 
he  immediately  summoned  his  officers  to  attend  him 
so  early  as  six  o'clock  next  morning.  The  sittings 
of  the  council  of  Ancients,  and  the  council  of  Five 
Hundred,  in  which  Lucien  Bonaparte  presided, 
were  removed  to  St.  Cloud ;  and  the  members  of 
the  latter  body  assembled  before  the  room  was  pre- 
pared for  their  reception. 

At  length  the  sitting  opened.  Emile  Gaudin 
ascended  the  tribune,  painted  in  lively  colours  the 
dangers  of  the  country,  and  proposed  thanks  to  the 
council   of  Ancients,  for  the  measures  of  public 


96  ANECDOTES    OF  * 

safety  which  it  had  set  on  foot ;  and  that  it  should 
be  invited,  by  message,  to  explain  its  intentions 
fully.  At  the  same  time,  he  proposed  to  appoint  a 
committee  of  seven  persons,  to  make  a  report  upon 
the  state  of  the  republic. 

The  furious  rushing  forth  of  the  winds  enclosed 
in  the  caverns  of  Eolus  never  raised  a  more  raging 
storm.  The  speaker  was  violently  hurled  to  the 
bottom  of  the  tribune.  The  ferment  became  ex- 
cessive. 

Delbred  desired  that  the  members  should  swear 
anew  to  the  constitution  of  the  year  3.  Chenier, 
Lucien,  Boulay,  trembled.  The  chamber  proceeded 
to  the  "Appel  Nominal,"  i.  e.,  a  calling  over  of  the 
names  of  the  deputies,  each  one  giving  his  vote  at 
the  time  of  answering. 

During  the  Appel  Nominal,  which  lasted  more 
than  two  hours,  reports  of  what  was  passing  were 
circulated  through  the  capital.  The  leaders  of  the 
assembly,  "du  Manege  tricoteuses,"  [or  knitters. 
These  were  female  jacobin  clubs,  chiefly  encouraged 
by  Robespierre:  they  took  their  place  in  the  na- 
tional assemblies  to  hear  the  debates,  &c]  hastened 
up.  Jourdan  and  Augereau  had  kept  out  of  the 
way ;  believing  Napoleon  lost,  they  made  all  haste 
to  St.  Cloud.  Augereau  drew  near  to  Napoleon, 
and  said,  "  Well !  here  you  are  in  a  pretty  situa- 
tion!" "Augereau,"  replied  Napoleon,  "remember 
Areola :  matters  appeared  much  more  desperate 
there.   Take  my  advice,  remain  quiet,  if  you  would 


THE    CONSULATE.  97 

not  fall  a  victim  to  this  confusion.  In  half  an  hour 
you  will  see  what  a  turn  affairs  will  have  taken." 

The  assembly  seemed  to  declare  itself  with  so 
much  unanimity,  that  no  deputy  durst  refuse  to 
swear  to  the  constitution — even  Lucien  himself  was 
compelled  to  swear.  Shouts,  and  cries  of  "  bravo," 
were  heard  throughout  the  chamber.  The  moment 
was  critical.  All  minds  were  in  a  state  of  sus- 
pense. Not  an  instant  was  to  be  lost.  Napoleon 
crossed  the  saloon  of  Mars,  entered  the  council  of 
Ancients,  and  placed  himself  opposite  to  the  presi- 
dent.    (x\t  the  bar.) 

"  You  stand,"  said  he,  "  upon  a  volcano  ;  the  Re- 
public no  longer  possesses  a  government;  the  Direct- 
ory is  dissolved ;  factions  are  at  work ;  the  hour  of 
decision  is  come.  You  have  called  in  my  arm,  and 
the  arms  of  my  comrades,  to  the  support  of  your 
wisdom  ;  but  the  moments  are  precious  ;  it  is  neces- 
sary to  take  an  ostensible  part.  I  know  that  Caesar 
and  Cromwell  are  talked  of — as  if  this  day  could  be 
compared  with  past  times.  No,  I  desire  nothing 
but  the  safety  of  the  republic,  and  to  maintain  the 
resolutions  to  which  you  are  about  to  come.  And 
you,  grenadiers,  whose  caps  I  perceive  at  the  doors 
of  this  hall,  speak — have  I  ever  deceived  you  ?  Did 
I  ever  forfeit  my  word  when,  in  camp,  in  the  midst 
of  privations,  I  promised  you  victory  and  plenty ; 
and  when,  at  your  head,  I  led  you  from  conquest  to 
conquest  ?  Now  say,  was  it  for  my  own  aggrandize- 
ment, or  for  the  interest  of  the  republic  ? " 


98  ANECDOTES    OP 

The  general  spoke  with  energy.  The  grenadiers 
were  electrified ;  and,  waving  their  caps  and  arms 
in  the  air,  they  all  seemed  to  say,  "  Yes,  true,  true ! 
he  always  kept  his  word  !  " 

Upon  this  a  member  (Linglet)  rose,  and  said, 
with  a  loud  voice,  "General,  we  applaud  what  you 
say ;  swrear,  then,  with  us,  obedience  to  the  consti- 
tution of  the  year  3,  which  alone  can  preserve  the 
republic." 

The  astonishment  caused  by  these  words  pro- 
duced the  most  profound  silence. 

Napoleon  recollected  himself  for  a  moment,  and 
then  went  on  again  emphatically  : — "  The  constitu- 
tion of  the  year  3 ! — you  have  it  no  longer — you 
violated  it  on  the  18th  of  Fructidor,  when  the 
government  infringed  on  the  independence  of  the 
legislative  body ;  you  violated  it  on  the  30th  of 
Prairial,  in  the  year  7,  when  the  legislative  body 
struck  at  the  independence  of  the  government;  you 
violated  it  on  the  22d  of  Floreal,  when,  by  a  sacri- 
legious decree,  the  government  and  the  legislative 
body  invaded  the  sovereignty  of  the  people,  by  an- 
nulling the  elections  made  by  them.  The  constitu- 
tion being  violated,  there  must  be  a  new  compact, 
new  guarantees." 

The  force  of  this  speech,  and  the  energy  of  the 
general,  brought  over  three-fourths  of  the  members 
of  the  council,  who  rose  to  indicate  their  approba- 
tion. At  this  moment,  Napoleon  was  informed  that 
the  Appel  Nominal  was  terminated  in  the  council 


THE    CONSULATE.  99 

of  Five  Hundred,  and  that  they  were  endeavouring 
to  Force  the  president,  Lucien,  to  put  the  outlawry 
of  his  brother  to  the  vote.  Napoleon  immediately 
hastened  to  the  Five  Hundred,  entered  the  chamber 
with  his  hat  off,  and  ordered  the  officers  and  soldiers 
who  accompanied  him  to  remain  at  the  doors  ;  he 
was  desirous  to  place  himself  at  the  bar,  to  rally  his 
party,  which  was  numerous,  but  which  had  lost  all 
unity  and  resolution.  But  to  get  to  the  bar,  it  was 
necessary  to  cross  half  the  chamber,  because 
the  president  had  his  seat  on  one  of  the  wings. 
When  Napoleon  had  advanced  alone  across  one- 
third  of  the  Orangery,  two  or  three  hundred  mem- 
bers suddenly  rose,  crying,  "  Death  to  the  tyrant ! 
Down  with  the  dictator ! " 

Two  grenadiers,  who,  by  the  order  of  the  gene- 
ral, had  remained  at  the  door,  and  who  had  reluct- 
antly obeyed,  saying  to  him,  "  You  do  not  know 
them,  they  are  capable  of  any  thing!"  rushed  in, 
sabre  in  hand,  overthrowing  all  that  opposed  their 
passage,  to  join  the  general,  and  cover  him  with 
their  bodies.  All  the  other  grenadiers  followed  this 
example,  and  forced  him  out  of  the  chamber.  In 
the  confusion,  one  of  them,  named  Thome,  was 
slightly  wounded  by  the  thrust  of  a  dagger ;  and  the 
clothes  of  another  were  cut  through. 

He  descended  into  the  court-yard,  called  the 
troops  into  a  circle  by  beat  of  drum,  got  on  horse- 
back, and  harangued  them.  "  I  was  about,"  said 
he,  "  to  point  out  to  them  the  means  of  saving  the 


100  ANECDOTES    OF 

republic,  and  restoring  our  glory.  They  answered 
me  with  their  daggers.  It  was  thus  they  would 
have  accomplished  the  wishes  of  the  allied  kings. 
What  more  could  England  have  done?  Soldiers, 
may  I  rely  upon  you  ?" 

Unanimous  acclamations  formed  the  reply  to  this 
speech.  Napoleon  instantly  ordered  a  captain  to 
oo  with  ten  men  into  the  chamber  of  Five  Hundred, 
and  to  liberate  the  president. 

Lucien  had  just  thrown  off  his  robe.  "  Wretches !" 
exclaimed  he,  "  you  insist  that  I  should  put  out  of 
the  protection  of  the  laws  my  brother,  the  saviour 
of  the  country,  him  whose  very  name  causes  kings 
to  tremble  !  I  lay  aside  the  insignia  of  the  popular 
magistracy ;  I  offer  myself  in  the  tribune  as  the 
defender  of  him,  whom  you  command  me  to  immo- 
late unheard." 

Thus  saying,  he  quitted  the  chair,  and  darted 
into  the  tribune.  The  officer  of  grenadiers  then 
presented  himself  at  the  door  of  the  chamber,  ex- 
claiming, "  Vive  la  Republique  IV  It  was  supposed 
that  the  troops  were  sending  a  deputation  to  express 
their  devotion  to  the  council.  The  captain  wan 
received  with  a  joyful  expression  of  feeling.  He 
availed  himself  of  the  misapprehension,  approached 
the  tribune,  and  secured  the  president,  saying  to 
him  in  a  low  voice,  "  It  is  your  brother's  order." 
The  grenadiers  at  the  same  time  shouted,  u  Down 
with  the  assassins !" 

Upon  these  exclamation ss  the  joy  of  the  members 


THE    CONSULATE.  101 

was  converted  into  sadness ;  a  gloomy  silence  tes- 
tified their  dejection.  No  opposition  was  offered 
to  the  departure  of  the  president,  who  rushed  into 
the  court-yard,  mounted  a  horse,  and  cried  out  in 
his  stentorian  voice,  "  General — and  you,  soldiers — 
the  president  of  the  council  of  Five  Hundred  pro- 
claims to  you  that  factious  men,  with  drawn  dag- 
gers, have  interrupted  the  deliberations  of  that 
assembly.  He  calls  upon  you  to  employ  force 
against  these  disturbers.  The  council  of  Five 
Hundred  is  dissolved !" 

"  President,"  replied  the  general,  "  it  shall  be 
done." 

He  then  ordered  Murat  into  the  chamber,  at  the 
head  of  a  detachment  in  close  column.  At  this 
crisis  general  B###  ventured:  tio^^kvhjm  £>r;  fifty 
men,  in  order  to  place  himself. in  amhuscade  upon 
the  way,  and  fire  upon  dip  ;fqgitiye*s;>.''  Naipoleoli 
replied  to  this  request  only  by  enjoining  the  grena- 
diers to  commit  no  excesses.  "It  is  my  wish,"  said 
he,  "that  not  one  drop  of  blood  may  be  shed." 

Murat  presented  himself  at  the  door,  and  sum- 
moned the  council  to  disperse.  The  shouts  and 
vociferations  continued.  Colonel  Moulins,  aid-de- 
camp of  Brune,  who  had  just  arrived  from  Holland, 
ordered  the  charge  to  be  beaten.  The  drums  put 
an  end  to  the  clamour.  The  soldiers  entered  the 
chamber  charging  bayonets.  The  deputies  leaped 
out  at  the  windows,  and  dispersed,  leaving  their 


102  ANECDOTES    OP 

gowns,  caps,  &c;  in  one  moment  the  chamber  was 
empty.  Those  members  of  the  council  who  had 
shown  most  pertinacity,  fled  with  the  utmost  pre- 
cipitation to  Paris. 

About  one  hundred  deputies  of  the  Five  Hundred 
/allied  at  the  office  and  round  the  inspectors  of  the 
hall.  They  presented  themselves  in  a  body  to  the 
council  of  the  Ancients.  Lucien  represented  that 
the  Five  Hundred  had  been  dissolved  at  his  in- 
stance ;  that,  in  the  exercise  of  his  functions  as 
president  of  the  assembly,  he  had  been  surrounded 
by  daggers ;  that  he  had  sent  attendants  to  summon 
the  council  again;  that  nothing  had  been  done  con- 
trary to  form,  and  that  the  troops  had  but  obeyed 
his  mandate-  The  .council  of  the  Ancients,  which 
had  witnessed  with:  some  uneasiness  this  exercise 
of  military  uower.  was  satisfied  with  the  explana- 
i  !••;:.     ,'•  i  ntn-iglu  the  two  councils  reassem- 

bled; they  formed  large  majorities.  Two  commit- 
tees were  appointed  to  report  upon  the  state  of  the 
republic.  On  the  report  of  Beranger,  thanks  to 
Napoleon  and  the  troops  were  decreed.  Boulay  de 
la  Meurthe,  in  the  Five  Hundred,  and  Villetard,  in 
the  Ancients,  detailed  the  situation  of  the  republic, 
and  the  measures  necessary  to  be  taken.  The  law 
of  the  19th  Brumaire  was  passed;  it  adjourned  the 
councils  to  the  1st  of  Ventose  following;  it  created 
two  committees  of  twenty-five  members  each,  to 
represent  the  councils  provisionally.     These  com- 


THE    CONSULATE.  liW 

mittees  were  also  to  prepare  a  civil  code.     A  pro 
visional  consular  commission,  consisting  of  Sieves, 
Roger-Ducos,  and  Napoleon,  was  charged  with  the 
executive  power. 

This  was  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  decisive 
events  in  the  life  of  Napoleon. 


104         NAPOLEON  KING  OF  ITALY. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FROM  THE  ACCESSION  OF  NAPOLEON  TO  THE  THRONE 
TO  THE  BATTLE  OF  TRAFALGAR. 

AD  Napoleon,  after  the  peace  of 
Amiens,  preferred  the  interests  of 
France  to  those  of  his  own  ambition, 
he  might  have  secured  to  the  nation 
the  fruits  of  twelve  years  of  internal 
IbbD  and  external  struggle,  and  become  the 


moderator  of  Europe.  But  he  chose  rather  to  be 
its  sovereign ;  and  keeping  his  eyes  steadily  fixed 
on  the  great  image  of  Charlemagne,  believed  that 
he  was,  himself,  summoned  to  the  same  high  desti- 
nies. His  first  object  of  ambition  was  to  add  to 
the  title  of  emperor  of  the  French  that  of  king  of 
Italy  ;  and  the  representatives  of  the  Cisalpine  re- 
public decided  that  their  country  should  be  erected 
into  a  kingdom,  in  his  favour.  Napoleon  set  out, 
instantly,  for  Milan ;  where  he  put  on  the  iron 
crown  of  the  Lombard  kings,  and  appointed  Eugene 
de  Beauharnais,  his  step-son,  viceroy  of  Italy.  The 
establishment  of  this  kingdom,  the  annexation  to 
the  empire  of  the  territory  of  Genoa  and  that  of 


ENTERS    VIENNA.  105 

Piedmont,  and  the  efforts  of  the  English  cabinet, 
once  more  directed  by  Mr.  Pitt,  revolted  Austria, 
and  united  that  country,  England  and  Russia, 
(where  the  emperor  Alexander  had  succeeded  to 
his  murdered  father,)  in  a  third  coalition  against 
France.  Napoleon  was,  at  this  time,  at  Boulogne, 
meditating  a  descent  upon  England,  and  preparing 
a  formidable  armament  for  that  purpose.  On  learn- 
ing that  two  hundred  and  twenty  thousand  Aus- 
trians  were  advancing,  in  three  bodies,  under  the 
archdukes  Ferdinand,  John,  and  Charles,  towards 
the  Rhine  and  Adige,  and  that  two  Russian  armies 
were  in  march  to  join  them,  he  suddenly  quitted 
Boulogne,  passed  the  Rhine,  on  the  1st  of  October, 
1805,  at  the  head  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  thou- 
sand men,  and  advanced  into  Germany, — whilst 
Massena  arrested  prince  Charles  in  Italy.  The 
Danube  was  crossed,  and  Bavaria  occupied  ;  and 
Napoleon  and  his  generals  vied  with  each  other  in 
boldness  and  success, — Murat  triumphing  at  Ver- 
tingen,  Dupont  at  Hasslach,  and  Ney  at  Echlingen. 
Bewildered  by  such  a  series  of  rapid  reverses,  the 
Austrian  general,  Mack,  suffered  himself  to  be  in- 
vested in  Ulm,  and  laid  down  his  arms,  with  thirty 
thousand  men.  This  capitulation  opened  the  gates 
of  Vienna  to  the  French  ;  and  Napoleon  made  his 
entry  into  that  city  on  the  13th  of  November. 
From  thence,  he  marched  into  Moravia,  to  meet 
the  Russians ;  and  encountered  them,  with  *he  re- 
mains of  the  Austrian  army,  on  the  plains  of  Aus- 


106  BATTLE    OF    TRAFALGAR. 

terlitz.  The  battle  was  fought  on  the  2d  of  Decern 
ber,  the  anniversary  of  his  coronation ;  and  there 
Napoleon  gained  the  most  brilliant  of  all  his  victo- 
ries. The  battle  of  Austerlitz  put  an  end  to  the 
third  coalition,  and  was  followed,  on  the  26th  of 
December,  by  the  peace  of  Presburg.  By  this 
treaty,  the  house  of  Austria  ceded  the  provinces  of 
Dalmatia  and  Albania  to  the  kingdom  of  Italy,  and 
a  great  number  of  its  possessions  to  the  electorates 
of  Bavaria  and  Wirtemberg,  which  were  erected 
into  kingdoms.  But  the  year  1805,  so  fruitful  in 
triumphs  for  France  on  the  continent,  beheld,  like- 
wise, the  complete  ruin  of  her  navy.  The  com- 
bined fleets  of  France  and  Spain,  under  the  com- 
mand of  admiral  Villeneuve,  beaten,  on  the  22d  of 
July,  at  Cape  Finisterre,  lost,  on  the  21st  of  Octo- 
ber, the  celebrated  battle  of  Trafalgar.  Thirty-two 
French  and  Spanish  ships  were  beaten  by  twenty- 
eight  English  sail,  under  the  command  of  Nelson ; 
and  thirteen  ships  alone  of  the  combined  fleet  es- 
caped. This  great  victory,  which  cost  the  English 
admiral  his  life,  secured  to  England  the  sovereignty 
of  the  seas ;  and  it  was  no  longer  on  that  element 
that  Napoleon  attempted  to  disturb  her  power. 


NAPOLEON    IN    PARIS. 


107 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

PROM  THE  BATTLE  OF  TRAFALGAR  TO  THE    OCCUPATION 
OF    SPAIN. 


HE  trophies  of  Ulm  and  Austerlitz  con- 
soled France  for  the  loss  of  her  navy. 
Napoleon  returned  to  Paris  after  his 
brilliant  three  months'  campaign,  and 
was  received  there  with  universal  en- 
thusiasm. Intoxicated  with  his  high 
fortune,  he  occupied  himself  with  effacing  the  last 
traces  of  the  revolutionary  institutions.  The  repub- 
lican calendar  was  definitively  replaced  by  the  Grego- 
rian ;  which  was  enriched  by  a  new  saint, — it  being 
ordained,  by  decree,  that  on  the  15th  of  August,  the 
fete  of  Saint-Napoleon  should  be  celebrated  through- 
out the  empire.  By  another  decree,  the  basilica 
of  Saint-Dennis  was  appointed  as  the  burial-place 
of  the  emperors ;  and  a  chapel  was  ordered  to  be 
consecrated  in  that  church  to  each  race  of  the  kings 
of  France.  The  Pantheon  was .  restored  to  the 
Catholic  worship  ;  and  the  tribunate  ceased  to  exist. 
Napoleon,  who,  by  the  peace  of  Presburg,  had  cre- 
ated the  kingdoms  of  Bavaria  and  Wirtemburg, 
declared  that  the  house   of  Naples  had   lost   the 


108  NAPOLEON  S    POLITY. 

crown,  in  chastisement  of  the  share  which  it  had 
taken  in  the  last  coalition,  and  transferred  the  Ne- 
apolitan sceptre  to  his  brother  Joseph.  He  erected 
the  republic  of  the  United  Provinces  into  a  kingdom, 
in  favour  of  his  brother  Louis,  and  named  his 
brother-in-law,  prince  Murat,  grand-duke  of  Cleves 
and  Berg.  One  single  republic,  alone,  now  re- 
mained, of  all  those  which  had  surrounded  France, 
under  the  directory — that  of  Switzerland  ;  and  Na- 
poleon declared  himself  its  mediator.  He  sought 
to  restore  the  military  system  of  the  middle  ages ; 
and  transformed  divers  provinces  and  principalities 
into  grand  fiefs  of  the  empire,  which  he  bestowed, 
as  recompenses,  on  his  most  illustrious  ministers 
and  generals.  Thus  were  Dalmatia,  Istria,  Belluno, 
Conegliano,  Treviso,  Bassano,  Vicenza,  Padua, 
Rovigo,  and  others,  erected  into  duchies,  and  Neuf- 
chatel,  Benevento,  and  Guastalla  into  principalities. 
Two  years  later,  Napoleon  gave  the  finishing  blow 
to  the  republican  institutions,  by  creating  a  new 
hereditary  nobility,  in  which  the  old  illustrious  fami- 
lies took  rank,  for  the  most  part,  after  the  distin- 
guished men  of  the  day.  Thus,  a  Montmorency  was 
made  a  count,  at  the  same  time  that  the  minister  of 
justice,  Fouche,  became  a  duke.  This  was  trifling 
with  the  good  sense  of  the  public,  and  altogether 
misunderstanding  the  characteristic  distinctions  be- 
tween ancient  and  modern  times.  It  was  an  idle 
nourishing  of  the  vain  hope  of  commencing  a  new 
era,  by  setting  up  himself  as  the  principle  and  source 


CONFEDERATION    OF    THE    RHINE.  109 

of  a  novel  order  of  things,  and  giving  to  the  insti- 
tutions of  an  advanced  civilization  the  forms  adopted 
for  that  of  an  age  as  yet  barbarous.  But  the  press 
was,  then,  constrained  to  adulation  or  to  silence ; 
and  the  victor-laurels  which  covered  the  faults  of 
Napoleon,  extorted  pardon  for  his  errors  and  des- 
potic acts.  In  the  year  1806,  all  things  smiled 
upon  his  wishes.  His  irreconcileable  enemy,  Pitt, 
was  dead,  and  had  been  succeeded  by  Fox,  the 
leader  of  the  parliamentary  opposition.  Negotia- 
tions for  peace  were,  immediately,  set  on  foot,  be- 
tween the  two  powers,  and  actively  prosecuted  by 
the  minister,  Talleyrand.  Napoleon,  however,  still 
laboured  to  extend  his  domination  in  Europe ;  and 
completed  the  organization  of  his  military  empire, 
by  bringing  the  ancient  Germanic  body  into  an 
admission  of  its  dependence  upon  himself.  On  the 
12th  of  July,  1806,  fourteen  princes  of  the  south 
and  west  of  Germany  formed  an  union,  under  the 
title  of  the  Confederation  of  the  Rhine,  and  acknow- 
ledged Napoleon  as  its  protector.  Francis  II. 
abdicated  the  title  of  emperor  of  Germany,  and  took 
that  of  emperor  of  Austria,  under  the  name  of 
Francis  I. : — and  thus  ended  the  Germanic  empire, 
after  having  existed  a  thousand  years. 

Frederick  William,  king  of  Prussia,  uneasy  at 
the  invasions  of  France,  and  jealous  of  the  perpet- 
ually increasing  ascendency  of  Napoleon  in  Europe, 
was  desirous  of  forming,  in  Germany,  a  confedera- 
tion of  the  northern  states,  with  the  view  of  opposing 


110  PRUSSIA    OVERTHROWN. 

it  to  the  confederation  of  the  Rhine.  Napoleon 
prevented  Hesse,  Saxony  and  the  Hanseatic  towns 
from  entering  into  this  league ;  and  having  rejected 
the  ultimatum  of  Prussia,  Frederick  William  re- 
solved upon  war.  He  invaded  Saxony  ;  the  French 
ambassador  was  insulted  in  Berlin  ;  and  the  young 
and  beautiful  queen  of  Prussia  traversed  that  city 
on  horseback,  and  in  military  costume,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  exciting  the  warlike  enthusiasm  of  the  popu- 
lace. "  She  looks,"  said  Napoleon,  speaking  of  her, 
"  like  Armida,  in  her  distraction,  setting  fire  to  her 
own  palace."  These  were  prophetic  words ;  for 
France  was  again  destined  to  crush  this  fourth 
coalition,  formed  between  Russia,  Prussia,  Sweden, 
and  England.  The  death  of  Fox,  which  followed 
soon  alter  that  of  Pitt,  had  destroyed  all  hope  of 
conciliation  between  that  latter  power  and  the 
French  empire. 

Napoleon  entered  upon  this  campaign,  on  the 
28th  of  September;  and,  on  the  14th  of  October, 
the  fate  of  Prussia  was  decided  by  two  glorious 
victories.  The  emperor  triumphed  at  Jena ;  and 
his  lieutenant,  Davoust,  was  victor,  on  the  same 
day,  at  Auerstaedt.  Lubeck  was  taken ;  all  the 
fortresses  of  Prussia  capitulated :  and,  in  a  few  days, 
that  despotic  and  military  monarchy  was  annihi- 
lated. Napoleon  traversed  the  battle-field  of  Ros- 
bach ;  where  his  presence  effaced  the  disgrace 
suffered  there  by  the  French  arms  in  the  preceding 
century.     At  Potsdam,  he  visited  the  tomb  of  the 


TREATY    OF    TILSIT.  Ill 

great  Frederick,  and  took  possession  of  that  famous 
warrior's  sword.  He  then  marched  into  Poland  to 
meet  the  Russian  army ;  which  he  fought,  on  the 
7th  of  February  (1807,)  with  equal  loss  on  both 
Bides,  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Eylau, — and  which  he 
crushed,  on  the  14th  of  June,  at  Fnedland.  Alex- 
ander sued  for  peace  ;  a  conference  took  place,  on 
a  raft  on  the  Niemen,  between  the  two  emperors 
and  the  king  of  Prussia  ;  and,  on  the  7th  of  July, 
peace  was  signed  at  Tilsit.  Alexander  interceded 
for  Frederick  William,  to  whom  Napoleon  gave 
back  the  half  of  his  estates.  Saxony  and  West- 
phalia, augmented,  the  one  by  a  great  portion  of 
the  Prussian  territory  and  the  other  by  Hanover, 
were  erected  into  kingdoms.  The  vanquished  sove- 
reigns acknowledged  as  grand-duke  of  Warsaw  the 
elector  of  Saxony,  who  had  already  been  crowned 
king  by  the  emperor,  and  as  kings  of  Naples,  Hol- 
land and  Westphalia,  the  brothers  of  Napoleon, 
Joseph,  Louis,  and  Jerome ; — and  the  confederation 
of  the  Rhine,  from  thenceforth,  extended  to  the  Elbe. 
England  alone  continued  to  resist  Napoleon ;  who 
directed  all  his  efforts  against  her,  and  strove  to 
crush  tier,  by  annihilating  her  commerce  in  Europe. 
On  the  21st  of  November,  in  the  preceding  year* 
had  issued,  from  Berlin,  the  famous  decree  which 
created  the  continental  system,  declaring  the  British 
islands  in  a  state  of  blockade,  and  extending  the 
seizure  of  all  English  merchandise  to  every  English- 
man found  on  the  territory  of  France,  on  those  of 


112  BOMBARDMENT    OF    COPENHAGEN.       _ 

the  countries  which  she  had  conquered,  or  of  the 
stales  which  acknowledged  the  dominion  of  her 
allies.  Every  nation  which  refused  to  adhere  to 
this  system  was  to  be  considered  as  an  enemy  of 
the  French  empire. 

This  decree  disturbed  all  Europe.  It  was  espe- 
cially injurious  to  the  interests  of  the  northern  and 
southern  nations,  for  whom  the  commerce  with  Eng- 
land was  a  vital  necessity ;  and  it  involved  Napoleon 
in  a  series  of  violent  measures  and  gigantic  opera- 
tions, which  precipitated  his  downfall.  England, 
deprived  of  the  alliance  of  Russia  by  the  treaty  of 
Tilsit,  determined,  at  whatever  cost,  to  preserve  a 
footing  on  the  coasts  of  the  Baltic ;  to  which  end 
she  demanded  of  Denmark  an  alliance  defensive  and 
offensive,  and,  as  guarantee,  the  delivery  of  her  fleet 
and  her  capital.  On  the  king's  refusal  to  comply 
with  this  demand,  Copenhagen  underwent,  on  the 
2d  of  September,  1807,  a  terrible  bombardment, 
which  destroyed  three  hundred  houses ;  while  the 
Danish  fleet,  composed  of  fifty-three  ships  of  war, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  English.  Victim  of  this 
act  of  iniquitous  and  barbarous  violence,  Denmark 
avenged  herself  by  instantly  adhering  to  the  conti- 
nental system ;  and  Russia  followed  her  example. 
Alexander  declared,  besides,  that  he  prohibited  all 
communication  with  the  English  until  there  should 
be  peace  between  France  and  Great  Britain. 

Sweden  was  the  only  power  in  the  north  which, 
after  the  treaty  of  Tilsit,  had  remained  in  arms. 


TREATY    WITH    SPAIN.  113 

Her  feeble  monarch,  Gustavus  IV.,  declared  him- 
self the  avenger  of  Europe  against  Napoleon ;  but, 
abandoned  by  England,  and  plundered  by  his  former 
ally,  Russia,  he  saw  Stralsund  and  the  Isle  of  Rugen 
carried  off  before  his  eyes,  lost  Pomerania,  and  by 
his  foolish  pride  alienated  from  himself  the  affection 
of  his  subjects.  The  entire  shores  of  the  Baltic 
submitted  to  the  French  yoke.  England  had,  some 
months  previously,  vainly  attempted  to  subdue  the 
Ottoman  Porte,  at  that  time  at  war  with  Russia, 
and  an  ally  of  France.  An  English  fleet,  after  hav- 
ing, with  this  design,  passed  the  Dardanelles,  had 
been  beaten  back  by  formidable  batteries,  hastily 
thrown  up  by  the  French  ambassador,  Sebastiani. 
There  remained  but  one  single  state  which  acknow- 
ledged the  direct  influence  of  Great  Britain.  That 
state  was  Portugal;  and  Napoleon,  who,  by  the 
decree  of  the  continental  blockade,  had  arrogated 
to  himself  the  right  of  disposing,  at  his  own  good 
pleasure,  of  the  destinies  of  nations,  signed,  at  Fon- 
tainbleau,  on  the  27th  of  September,  1807,  an  in- 
iquitous treaty  with  Spain,  by  which  Portugal,  in 
chastisement  of  her  alliance  with  England,  was  to 
be  almost  entirely  shared  between  the  king  of 
Etruria,  and  Godoy,  prince  of  peace,  who  governed 
the  Spanish  monarchy.  This  treaty  acknowledged 
the  king  of  Spain,  Charles  IV.,  as  suzerain  of  the 
two  states  formed  by  the  dismemberment  of  Portu- 
gal. A  proclamation  announced,  on  the  13th  of 
December,  1807,  that  the  house  of  Braganza  had 

H 


114  ATTEMPT    UPON    SPAIN. 

ceased  to  reign.  Twenty-eight  thousand  French, 
under  the  command  of  Junot,  were  charged  with 
the  execution  of  this  sentence ;  and,  before  their 
arrival  at  Lisbon,  the  prince  regent  of  Portugal 
embarked  for  Brazil,  abandoning  his  capital  and  his 
fleet  to  the  invading  army. 

This  rapid  success,  and  the  scandalous  dissen- 
sions of  the  royal  family  of  Spain,  inflamed  the 
ambition  of  Napoleon,  and  accustomed  him  to  look 
upon  the  peninsula,  in  part  or  in  whole,  as  his  con- 
quest. The  feeble  Charles  IV.,  entirely  governed 
by  the  queen's  favourite,  Godoy,  had  rendered  him- 
self contemptible  in  the  eyes  of  all  his  subjects ; 
of  whom  Ferdinand,  the  prince  of  Asturias,  became 
the  idol,  as  the  declared  enemy  of  the  obnoxious 
favourite.  Napoleon,  at  the  summit  of  his  fortune, 
was  an  object  of  admiration  and  reverence  to 
Charles  IV.  and  his  son.  Already,  he  had  been 
chosen  as  the  arbiter  of  their  differences  ;  and  the 
prince  of  Asturias  had  solicited  the  honour  of  an 
alliance  with  his  family.  It  was  in  the  emperor's 
power,  by  pacific  measures,  to  have  exercised  a 
sovereign  influence  over  Spain,  and  profited,  ad- 
vantageously for  his  own  system,  by  the  hatred 
with  which  a  number  of  maritime  disasters  had 
inspired  the  Spaniards  against  England.  This, 
however,  was  not  sufficient  for  his  ambition  ;  and, 
whilst  the  eyes  of  all  the  royal  family  of  Spain 
were  turned  towards  him  in  hope,  a  French  army 
passed  the  Pyrenees,  under  Murat,  the  grand-duke 


TREACHERY    TO    SPAIN.  115 

of  Berg,  and  suddenly  the  news  reached  Madrid 
that  the  strong-holds  of  Barcelona,  Figueras,  Pam- 
peluna  and  Saint  Sebastian  were  militarily  occupied 
by  the  French  (1808).  Soon  afterwards,  Napoleon, 
in  contempt  of  the  treaty  of  Fontainbleau,  openly 
demanded  the  annexation  to  his  empire  of  the  pro- 
vinces on  the  left  bank  of  the  Ebro.  Charles  IV. 
and  the  queen  were  smitten  with  dismay;  and 
Godoy  counselled  them  to  imitate  the  prince  regent 
of  Portugal,  and  embark  for  their  dominions  in 
America.  His  advice  was  adopted,  and  prepara- 
tions were  making  for  their  departure ;  but  Ferdi- 
nand opposed  the  measure,  and,  summoning  the 
population  of  Aranjuez  to  arms,  denounced  to  them, 
as  new  treacheries,  the  dastardly  counsels  of  Go- 
doy. An  insurrection  was  the  consequence,  in 
which  the  troops  took  part,  and  which  was  directed 
by  Ferdinand.  He  caused  Godoy  to  be  arrested^ 
kept  his  father  prisoner,' compelled  him  to  abdicate, 
and  then  made  a  triumphal  entry  into  Madrid,  in 
the  character  of  king  of  the  two  Spains. 

On  the  following  day,  however,  Murat,  without 
awaiting  the  emperor's  orders,  entered  that  capital 
with  his  army.  Charles  IV.  protested  against  his 
compulsory  abdication,  and  Murat  refused  to  ac- 
knowledge the  royalty  of  Ferdinand.  '  Napoleon, 
alone,'  he  said,  'must  decide  between  the  father  and 
son.'  The  emperor  came  to  Bayonne  ;  whither  he 
invited  king  Charles  and  his  son  to  repair,  that  he 
might  pronounce,  as  supreme  arbiter  of  their  differ- 


116  JOSEPH    MADE    KING    OF    SPAIN. 

ences  and  destinies.  They  obeyed  the  summons  ; 
and  Napoleon,  master  of  their  persons,  decided  for 
the  father,  and  compelled  him  to  abdicate  in  his 
own  favour.  Charles  IV.  had  the  chateau  of  Cam- 
piegne  assigned  for  his  habitation,  and  his  son  was 
held  captive  in  that  of  Valencay.  Thus  was  con- 
summated an  odious  act  of  usurpation,  whose  re- 
sults became  fatal  to  its  author,  and  gave  the  first 
blow  to  his  fortune,  by  shaking  the  stability  of  his 
throne.  Murat,  however,  retained  possession  of 
Madrid ;  and,  swayed  by  French  influence,  the 
council  of  Castile  was  induced  to  demand  as  king 
of  Spain,  Napoleon's  eldest  brother,  Joseph. 

An  assembly  of  notables  was  immediately  con- 
vened at  Bayonne;  at  which  the  emperor  organized 
a  junta  charged  with  the  provisional  government. 
Joseph  yielded  up  the  crown  of  Naples  to  Joachim 
Murat,  instantly  quitted  that  capital,  and  arrived  at 
Bayonne,  on  the  7th  of  June ;  where  he  was  ac- 
knowledged king  of  Spain  by  the  duke  de  l'lnfan- 
tado,  and  a  deputation  of  the  grandees  and  different 
bodies  of  the  state.  The  assembly  of  Bayonne 
voted  a  constitution,  to  which  Joseph  swore ;  and, 
on  the  9th  of  July,  he  was  in  march  for  Spain.  But 
already  the  Spaniards,  indignant  and  furious  at  the 
usurpation,  had  flown  to  arms.  The  clergy  set  the 
example  of  revolt,  declaring  that  heaven  was  inte- 
rested in  the  cause  of  Ferdinand,  and  denouncing 
Napoleon  as  Anti-christ.     The  army  had  risen  in 


RESISTANCE    OP    SPAIN.  117 

mass ;  and  a  provisional  junta  of  government  as- 
sembled at  Seville,  disputed  and  annulled  the  acts 
of  the  junta  of  Bayonne.  On  Saint-Ferdinand's 
day,  a  new  'Sicilian  Vespers'  sounded  against  the 
French,  throughout  the  whole  of  Spain.  Their 
squadron  was  seized  at  Cadiz,  and  the  crews 
slaughtered ;  and  the  Spaniards  signalized  their 
vengeance,  in  various  places,  by  massacres  and 
crime.  They  declared  war  to  the  death  against  the 
French, — and  the  Portuguese  followed  their  exam- 
ple. However,  Bessieres  was  victorious  at  Medina 
de  Rio  Secco ;  and  his  success  opened  the  gates 
of  Madrid  to  king  Joseph, — who  made  his  entry 
into  that  capital  on  the  20th  of  July. 

Almost  immediately  afterwards,  however,  gene- 
ral Dupont  shamefully  capitulated,  at  Baylen,  and 
laid  down  his  arms,  with  twenty-six  thousand  sol- 
diers. This  terrible  check  gave  a  shock  to  the 
French  authority  in  the  peninsula,  and  redoubled 
the  daring  of  the  Spaniards.  Joseph  was  obliged 
to  quit  Madrid,  one  week  after  his  solemn  entry. 
Portugal  revolted ;  and  an  English  army  landed 
there,  under  the  command  of  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley, 
afterwards  the  duke  of  Wellington.  Junot,  with 
only  ten  thousand  men,  risked  the  battle  of  Vimiera 
against  twenty-six  thousand  English  and  Portu- 
guese. He  was  beaten;  and,  shortly  afterwards, 
signed  the  convention  of  Cintra,  which  at  least  left 
him  at  liberty  to  return  to  France  with  honour 


118 


REVERSES    OF    NAPOLEON. 


Portugal  was  evacuated ;  and  already  Joseph  pos- 
sessed no  more  than  Barcelona, Navarre  and  Biscay, 
in  all  Spain.  The  English,  so  recently  enemies  to  the 
Spaniards,  were  received  by  them  with  open  arms. 
The  star  of  Napoleon  began  to  wane  ;  and  the^res- 
tige  of  the  invincibility  of  the  French  arms,  under 
his  reign,  was  at  length  destroyed. 


ANECDOTES. 


119 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


ANECDOTES 


Coronation   of  Napoleon. 

HE  Pope  arrived  in  Paris  on  the  28th 
of  November ;  and  no  time  was  lost 
in  preparing  for  the  solemnity  which 
had  brought  him  thither.  Two  days 
after,  that  is  to  say,  on  the  first  of 
December,  the  senate  presented  to  the  emperor  the 
result  of  the  votes  of  the  people,  on  the  question  of 
hereditary  succession ;  and  next  day  the  consecra- 
tion took  place.  It  was  pretended  that  the  title  of 
emperor  changed  nothing  of  the  republic,  and  that 
the  succession  of  this  dignity  in  one  family  was  the 
only  innovation  produced  under  the  empire. 

On  the  2d  of  December,  1804,  the  pope  repaired 
first  to  the  cathedral  of  Notre  Dame,  before  the 
emperor;  the  imperial  cortege  appeared  resplendent 
with  gold,  plumes,  and  rich  furniture  of  the  horses ; 
the  costumes  dazzled  the  multitude,  and  for  the  first 
time  pages  were  stuck  round  the  imperial  carriage. 
The  vast  interior  was  crowded  with  an  audience  in 


120  ANECDOTES. 

full  dress,  and  with  swords.  The  crowns,  both  for 
himself  and  the  empress,  were  laid  upon  the  altar ; 
and  the  pope,  having  anointed  the  foreheads  and 
temples  of  the  emperor  and  empress  with  oil,  which 
he  had  previously  consecrated  for  the  purpose,  pro- 
ceeded to  bless  and  consecrate  the  crowns,  taking 
them  in  his  hands  as  he  pronounced  the  benediction. 
fie  then  replaced  them  on  the  altar ;  and,  retiring 
to  his  own  seat,  Napoleon  advanced.  Taking  in 
his  hand  the  crown  destined  for  himself,  and  "  a 
wreath  of  laurel,"  he  pronounced  the  oath  to  the 
nation,  which  had  been  decreed  by  the  senate,  and 
repeated  a  formula  signifying  his  acknowledgment 
that  he  held  the  crown  by  the  favour  of  God  and 
the  French  people ;  after  which  he  placed  it  upon 
his  head.  The  empress  then  advancing,  he  took  in 
like  manner  into  his  hand  the  crown  destined  for 
her,  in  form  the  same  as  the  queens  of  France  used 
to  wear,  and  pronouncing  a  formula  purporting  that 
she  held  the  crown  only  as  his  true  and  lawful  wife, 
not  from  any  right  inherent  in  herself,  he  placed  the 
crown  upon  her  head. 

David's  Picture  of  the  Coronation. 

Prior  to  its  public  exhibition  Napoleon  appointed 
a  day  to  inspect  it  in  person,  when,  in  order  to  con- 
fer a  greater  honour  upon  the  artist,  he  went  in 
state,  attended  by  a  detachment  of  horse  and  a 
military  band,  accompanied  by  the  empress  Jose- 


ANECDOTES.  121 

phine,  the  princes  and  princesses  of  his  family,  and 
followed  by  his  ministers  and  the  great  officers  of 
the  crown. 

After  an  attentive  examination  of  the  work,  he 
expressed  himself  in  these  words : 

"M.  David,  this  is  well;  very  well  indeed ;  you 
have  conceived  my  whole  idea ;  the  empress,  my 
mother,  the  emperor,  all,  are  most  appropriately 
placed;  you  have  made  me  a  French  knight,  and  I 
am  gratified  that  you  have  thus  transmitted  to  fu- 
ture ages  the  proofs  of  affection  1  was  desirous  of 
testifying  towards  the  empress." 

After  a  silence  of  some  seconds,  Napoleon's  hat 
being  on,  and  Josephine  standing  at  his  right-hand, 
with  M.  David  on  his  left,  the  emperor  advanced 
two  steps,  and,  turning  to  the  painter,  uncovered 
himself,  making  a  profound  obeisance  while  uttering 
these  words  in  an  elevated  tone  of  voice,  "  Mon- 
sieur David,  I  salute  you  ! " 

"  Sire,"  replied  the  painter,  "  I  receive  the  com- 
pliment of  the  emperor,  in  the  name  of  all  the  ar- 
tists of  the  empire,  happy  in  being  the  individual 
one  you  deign  to  make  the  channel  of  such  an 
honour." 

When  the  picture  was  removed  to  the  museum, 
the  emperor  wished  to  inspect  it  a  second  time ; 
and  M.  David  in  consequence  attended  in  the  hall 
of  the  Louvre,  surrounded  by  his  pupils ;  upon 
which  occasion,  at  the  emperor's  desire,  he  pointed 
out  the  most  conspicuous  "eleves"  who  received  the 


122  ANECDOTES. 

decoration  of  the  legion  of  honour :  "  It  is  requi- 
site," said  Napoleon,  "that  I  should  testify  my 
satisfaction  to  the  master  of  so  many  distinguished 
artists ;  therefore,  I  promote  you  to  be  officer  of  the 
legion  of  honour:  M.  Duroc,  give  a  golden  decora- 
tion to  M.  David  !" — "  Sire,  I  have  none  with  me," 
answered  the  grand-marshal.  "  No  matter,"  replied 
the  emperor,  "  do  not  let  this  day  transpire  without 
executing  my  order."  And  on  the  same  evening 
the  insignia  were  forwarded  to  M.  David. 

The  king  of  Wirtemberg,  at  the  suggestion  of 
the  emperor,  also  waited  upon  the  artist  to  inspect 
his  labour,  when,  on  contemplating  the  performance, 
and  in  particular,  the  luminous  brightness  spread 
over  the  group  in  which  are  the  pope  and  cardinal 
Caprara,  his  majesty  thus  expressed  himself:  "I 
did  not  believe  that  your  art  could  effect  such  won- 
ders ;  white  and  black,  in  painting,  afford  but  very 
weak  resources.  When  you  produced  this,  you 
had,  no  doubt,  '  a  sunbeam  upon  your  pencil.' " 

Napoleon  at  Boulogne. 

From  the  extensive  preparations  made  by  the 
flotilla  at  Boulogne,  every  thing  seemed  to  announce 
a  speedy  invasion  of  Great  Britain.  The  praams, 
cutters,  gun-boats,  and  even  the  smallest  craft,  were 
filled  with  troops,  who  all  felt  desirous  of  taking 
advantage  of  the  opportunity  of  joining  the  stand- 
ards of  those  legions  that  would  be  immortalized, 


ANECDOTES.  123 

should  the  conquest  of  Albion  be  achieved.  Al- 
ready destruction  seemed  to  wield  the  falchion  over 
the  plains  of  England,  whose  formidable  fleets  and 
well-known  maritime  genius  so  ably  counterbalanced 
the  glory  of  the  French  arms.  Napoleon,  who  was 
at  that  period  first  consul,  had  already  disposed 
every  thing  in  order  for  this  great  event,  when  other 
circumstances  intervened  to  impede  the  project,  the 
result  of  which,  whether  successful  or  not,  would 
have  influenced,  in  a  great  measure,  the  destinies 
of  Europe.  At  this  epoch  a  British  squadron  was 
cruising  in  the  Channel,  and -particularly  blockaded 
the  ports  of  Boulogne,  Calais,  and  Dunkirk.  One 
day,  on  the  near  approach  of  this  fleet  to  the 
French  coast,  the  flotilla  made  sail,  not  to  give 
regular  battle  to  the  English,  but  to  annoy  them,  if 
possible,  at  a  distance.  At  this  period  the  British 
frigate  "  Immortality,"  advancing  from  the  line  of 
battle,  almost  singly  engaged  the  gun-boats,  cutters, 
&c,  when  Bonaparte,  being  at  the  time  in  his  own 
boat,  was  thus  perilously  placed  between  the  fire 
of  the  English  vessels  and  that  of  the  French 
praams,  &c.  Upon  a  thousand  occasions  similar 
to  the  present,  notwithstanding  the  play  of  an  ene- 
my's artillery,  Napoleon  had  never  issued  orders 
to  his  soldiers  to  halt ;  but,  in  this  instance,  as  if 
actuated  by  a  secret  fore-knowledge,  he  had  only 
time  to  exclaim — "  Raise  your  oars  !"  and  in  the 
course  of  half  a  second  a  bullet  fell  so  close  to  the 
boat,  as  to  wet  every  individual  stationed  within  it. 


1 24  ANECDOTES, 


Battle  of  Ansterlitz, 

At  length  the  great  day  arrived,  when,  according 
to  the  expression  of  Napoleon,  "  the  sun  of  Auster- 
litz  arose ;"  all  our  forces  were  concentrated  upon 
the  same  point  at  about  forty  leagues  beyond 
Vienna.  There  remained  only  the  wreck  of  the 
Austrian  army ;  the  division  under  prince  Charles 
having  been  kept  at  a  distance  by  the  skilful  ma- 
noeuvres of  Napoleon,  The  most  extraordinary 
illusion  prevailed  in  the  enemy's  camp.  On  the 
very  eve  of  the  battle  the  emperor  Alexander  sent 
one  of  his  aids-de-camp,  prince  Dolgorowski,  as  a 
flag  of  truce  to  Napoleon.  This  prince  conducted 
himself  in  such  a  self-sufficient  manner  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  emperor,  that,  on  dismissing  him,  he 
said  to  him,  "If  you  were  on  the  heights  of  Mont- 
ma  rtre,  I  would  answer  such  impertinence  only  with 
cannon-balls."  This  observation  was  very  remark- 
able, inasmuch  as  events  occurred  which  rendered 
it  a  prophecy. 

"When  we  arrived  at  Austerlitz,"  says  Rapp, 
"the  Russians,  ignorant  of  the  emperor's  skilful 
dispositions  to  draw  them  to  the  ground  which  he 
had  marked  out,  and  seeing  our  advanced  guards 
give  way  before  their  columns,  they  conceived  the 
victory  won.  According  to  their  notions,  the  ad- 
vanced guard  would  suffice  to  secure  an  easy  tri- 
umph.    But  the  battle  began  —  they  found  what  it 


AUCfVrfcftlHON 
THE   NIGHT   BEFORE   THE   BATTLE   OF   AUSTERL1TZ. 


ANECDOTES.  ]  25 

was  to  fight,  and  on  every  point  were  repulsed.  At 
one  o'clock  the  victory  was  still  uncertain ;  for  they 
fought  admirably.  They  resolved  on  a  last  effort, 
and  directed  close  masses  against  our  centre.  The 
imperial  guard  deployed;  artillery,  cavalry,  infantry, 
were  marched  against  a  bridge  which  the  Russians 
attacked,  and  this  movement,  concealed  from  Napo- 
leon by  the  inequality  of  the  ground,  was  not  ob- 
served by  us.  At  this  moment  I  was  standing  near 
him,  waiting  orders.  We  heard  a  well-maintained 
fire  of  musketry;  the  Russians  were  repulsing  one 
of  our  brigades.  Hearing  this  sound,  the  emperor 
ordered  me  to  take  the  Mamelukes,  two  squadrons 
of  chasseurs,  one  of  grenadiers  of  the  guard,  and 
to  observe  the  state  of  things.  I  set  off  at  full 
gallop,  and,  before  advancing  a  cannon-shot,  per- 
ceived the  disaster.  The  Russian  cavalry  had 
penetrated  our  squares,  and  were  sabring  our  men. 
In  the  distance  could  be  perceived  masses  of  Rus- 
sian cavalry  and  infantry  in  reserve.  At  this 
juncture  the  enemy  advanced  :  four  pieces  of  artil- 
lery arrived  at  a  gallop,  and  were  planted  in  posi- 
tion against  us.  On  the  left  I  had  the  brave  Mor- 
land,  on  my  right  general  d'Allemagne.  "Cou- 
rage, my  brave  fellows ! "  cried  I  to  my  party ; 
"  behold  your  brothers,  your  friends,  butchered ;  let 
us  avenge  them — avenge  our  standards!  Forward !" 
These  few  words  inspired  my  soldiers ;  we  dashed 
at  full  speed  upon  the  artillery,  and  took  them.  The 
enemy's   horse,  which   awaited   our  attack,  were 


1 26  ANECDOTES. 

overthrown  by  the  same  charge,  and  fled  in  confu* 
sion,  galloping,  like  us,  over  the  wrecks  of  our  own 
squares.  In  the  meantime  the  Russians  rallied  ; 
but,  a  squadron  of  horse  grenadiers  coming  to  our 
assistance,  I  could  then  halt,  and  await  the  reserves 
of  the  Russian  guard.  Again  we  charged  ;  and 
this  charge  was  terrible.  The  brave  Morland  fell 
by  my  side.  It  was  absolute  butchery.  We  fought 
man  to  man,  and  so  mingled  together,  that  the  in- 
fantry on  neither  side  dared  to  lire,  lest  they  should 
kill  their  own  men.  The  intrepidity  of  our  troops 
finally  bore  us  in  triumph  over  all  opposition :  the 
enemy  fled  in  disorder  in  sight  of  the  two  emperors 
of  Austria  and  Russia,  who  had  taken  their  station 
on  a  rising  ground,  in  order  to  be  spectators  of  the 
contest.  They  ought  to  have  been  satisfied,  for  I 
can  assure  you  they  witnessed  no  child's  play.  For 
my  own  part,  my  good  friend,  I  never  passed  so 
delightful  a  day.  The  emperor  received  me  most 
graciously  when  I  arrived  to  tell  him  that  the  vic- 
tory was  ours  ;  I  still  grasped  my  broken  sahre, 
and,  as  this  scratch  upon  my  head  bled  very  co- 
piously, I  was  all  covered  with  blood.  He  named 
me  general  of  division.  The  Russians  returned 
not  again  to  the  charge  —  they  had  had  enough, 
we  captured  every  thing — their  cannon,  their  bag- 
gage, their  all  in  short ;  and  prince  Ressina  waa 
among  the  prisoners." 


ANECDOTES.  127 

Bulletin  of  the  Battle  of  Jena. 

i  The  battle  of  Jena  has  washed  out  the  affront 
of  Rosbach,  and  decided,  in  seven  days,  a  cam- 
paign which  has  entirely  calmed  the  warlike  frenzy 
which  had  possessed  itself  of  the  Prussian  mind. 

"  The  kins  of  Prussia  wished  to  commence  hos- 
tilities  on  the  9th  of  October,  by  defiling  before 
Frankfort  on  his  right,  Wurtzburg  on  his  centre, 
and  Bamberg  on  his  left ;  all  the  divisions  of  his 
army  were  disposed  to  execute  this  plan  ;  but  the 
French  army,  turning  on  the  extremity  of  his  left, 
found  itself  in  a  few  days  at  Sadlburg,  Labenstcin, 
Schleisz,  Gera,  and  Naumburg.  The  Prussian 
army  being  turned,  employed  the  days  of  the  9th, 
10th,  11th,  and  12th,  in  recalling  all  its  detach- 
ments, and  on  the  13th  presented  itself  in  order  of 
battle  between  Capelsdorf  and  Auerstadt,  being 
about  a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men  strong. 

"  On  the  13th,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
the  emperor  arrived  at  Jena,  and  from  a  slight  ele- 
vation, occupied  by  our  advance-guard,  he  perceived 
the  disposition  of  the  enemy,  who  appeared  to  be 
manoeuvring  in  order  to  attack  the  next  day,  and 
force  the  different  mouths  of  the  Saale.  The  ene- 
my defended  in  great  strength,  and  in  an  almost 
impregnable  position,  the  road  from  Jena  to  Wei- 
mar, and  appeared  to  think  that  the  French  could 
not  defile  in  the  plain,  without  having  forced  tiiis 


128  ANECDOTES. 

passage ;  it  did  not  appear  possible,  indeed,  to 
mount  any  artillery  on  the  plain,  which,  besides, 
was  so  small,  that  four  battalions  could  scarcely 
find  room  on  it.  We  laboured  all  night  at  forming 
a  road  through  the  rock,  and  succeeded  in  convey- 
ing the  artillery  to  the  heights. 

"  Marshal  Davoust  received  orders  to  pass  by 
Naumburg  to  defend  the  defiles  of  Koesen,  if  they 
attempted  to  march  upon  Naumburg,  or  repair  to 
Alpoda,  to  take  them  in  the  rear  if  they  remained 
in  their  present  position. 

"  The  corps  of  marshal  prince  de  Ponte  Corvo, 
was  destined  to  defile  from  Dornburg,  in  order  to 
fall  upon  the  rear  of  the  enemy  whether  they  at- 
tacked Naumburg  or  Jena  in  any  force. 

"  The  heavy  cavalry,  which  had  not  yet  rejoined 
the  army,  could  not  arrive  until  noon ;  the  cavalry 
of  the  Imperial  guard  were  at  thirty-six  leagues 
distance,  in  spite  of  the  forced  marches  it  had  made 
since  its  departure  from  Paris.  But  there  are  mo- 
ments in  war,  when  no  consideration  can  balance 
the  advantage  of  being  before-hand  with  the  enemy, 
and  of  attacking  first.  The  emperor  ordered  to 
be  ranged  on  the  elevation  which  was  occupied  by 
the  advance-guard,  which  the  enemy  appeared  to 
'lave  neglected,  and  opposite  to  which  they  were  in 
position,  the  whole  of  the  corps  of  marshal  Lannes, 
each  division  forming  a  wing.  Marshal  Lefebvre 
placed  on  the  summit,  the  Imperial  guard  in  a 
square  battalion.     The  emperor  bivouacked  in  the 


ANECDOTES,  129 

midst  of  bis  brave  fellows.  The  night  offered  a 
spectacle  worthy  of  observation,  that  of  the  two 
armies,  one  of  which  embraced  with  its  front  an 
extent  of  six  leagues,  and  peopled  the  atmosphere 
with  its  fires,  the  other  whose  apparent  fires  were 
concentrated  in  a  small  point,  and  in  both  encamp- 
ments, activity  and  motion.  The  fires  of  the  two 
armies  were  within  half  cannon-shot ;  the  sentinels 
almost  touched  each  other,  and  not  a  movement 
could  be  made  without  being  heard. 

"  The  troops  of  marshal  Ney  and  Soult  passed 
the  night  in  marching.  At  day-break,  the  whole 
of  the  troops  took  arms.  The  division  Gazan  was 
ranged  in  three  lines  to  the  left  of  the  hill.  The 
division  Suchet  formed  the  right;  the  Imperial 
guard  occupied  the  summit  of  the  hillock ;  each 
of  these  bodies  having  their  cannon  in  the  intervals. 
From  the  town  and  the  neighbouring  valleys,  some 
passages  had  been  constructed,  which  permitted  the 
easier  operations  of  the  troops  who  had  not  been 
able  to  find  room  on  the  hills ;  for  it  was,  perhaps, 
the  first  time  that  an  army  was  to  pass  through  so 
narrow  a  defile. 

"A  thick  fog  obscured  the  day.  The  emperor 
passed  before  several  lines ;  he  recommended  the 
soldiers  to  be  on  their  guard  against  the  Prussian 
cavalry,  which  had  been  represented  as  so  formida- 
ble. He  bade  them  remember  that,  a  year  ago,  al 
the  same  period,  they  had  conquered  Ulm;  that 
the  Prussian,  like  the  Austrian  army,  was  at  that 

i 


130  ANECDOTES. 

moment  shackled,  having  lost  its  line  of  operations 
ana  its  magazines ;  that  it  could  not,  therefore,  fight 
for  glory,  but  for  a  retreat ;  that,  as  it  would  seek 
to  force  a  passage  on  different  points,  those  divi- 
sions which  allowed  it  to  pass,  should  lose  honour 
and  reputation.  To  this  animated  discourse,  the 
soldiers  replied  by  cries  of  '  Let  us  march.'  The 
riflemen  commenced  the  action,  and  the  firing  soon 
became  vigorous.  Good  as  was  the  position  which 
the  enemy  occupied,  it  was  nevertheless  dislodged, 
and  the  French  army,  defiling  into  the  plain,  began 
to  take  up  its  order  of  battle. 

"  On  their  side,  the  chief  body  of  the  hostile 
army,  which  had  only  intended  to  commence  the 
attack  when  the  fog  had  cleared  up,  took  arms. 
A  body  of  fifty  thousand  men  on  the  left,  posted 
themselves  so  as  to  cover  the  defiles  of  Nauraburg; 
but  they  had  already  been  forestalled  by  marshal 
Davoust.  The  two  other  bodies,  forming  a  force 
of  eighty  thousand  men,  marched  to  meet  the 
French  army,  which  was  just  emerging  from  the 
plain  of  Jena.  The  fog  covered  the  armies  during 
two  hours,  but  was  at  length  dissipated  by  a  fine 
autumn  sun.  The  two  armies  perceived  each  other 
within  cannon-shot.  The  left  of  the  French  troops, 
supported  by  a  village  and  some  woods,  was  com- 
manded by  marshal  Augereau.  The  Imperial 
guard  separated  it  from  the  centre,  which  was  oc- 
cupied by  marshal  Lannes.  The  right  was  formed 
by  the  corps  of  marshal  Soult ;  marshal  Ney.  had 


ANECDOTES.  131 

but  a  small  body  of  three  thousand  men,  the  only 
troops  under  his  command  which  had  arrived. 

"  The  hostile  army  was  numerous,  and  boasted 
of  a  fine  cavalry.  The  manoeuvres  were  executed 
with  precision  and  rapidity.  The  emperor  had 
wished  to  delay  for  two  hours,  before  commencing 
the  action,  in  order  to  wait,  in  the  position  which 
he  had  just  taken  after  the  attack  of  the  morning 
for  the  troops  which  were  to  join  him,  and  especially 
the  cavalry ;  but  French  ardour  carried  all  before 
it.  Several  battalions  being  engaged  at  the  village 
of  Holstedt,  he  saw  the  enemy  moving  to  gain  this 
post.  Marshal  Lannes  immediately  received  orders 
to  march  to  the  support  of  this  village.  Marsha] 
Soult  had  attacked  a  wood  on  the  ri^ht.  The  ene- 
my  having  made  a  movement  of  its  right  upon  our 
left,  marshal  Augereau  was  charged  to  repulse  it; 
in  less  than  an  hour  the  action  became  general ; 
two  hundred  and  fifty  or  three  hundred  thousand 
men,  with  seven  or  eight  hundred  pieces  of  cannon, 
scattered  death  on  all  sides,  and  presented  a  specta- 
cle rare  in  history. 

"Both  sides  were  constantly  executing  manoeuvres 
as  though  on  parade.  Among  our  troops  there  was 
not  the  least  disorder ;  the  victory  was  never  for  a 
moment  doubtful.  The  emperor  retained  near  him, 
exclusive  of  the  Imperial  guard,  a  large  number  of 
reserved  troops,  in  order  to  be  enabled  to  provide 
against  any  unforeseen  accident. 

"  Marshal  Soult,  having  carried  the  wood  which 


132 


ANECDOTES. 


he  had  attacked  during  two  hours,  made  a  move- 
ment in  advance.  At  this  moment  the  emperor 
was  advised  that  the  division  of  French  cavalry  in 
reserve,  had  begtfti  to  form,  and  that  two  divisions 
of  the  troops  of  marshal  Ney  had  taken  up  their 
position  in  the  rear  of  the  field  of  battle.  All  the 
troops  in  reserve  on  the  first  line  were  then  ordered 
to  advance,  who,  finding  themselves  supported, 
overthrew  the  enemy  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
and  made  them  retreat  precipitately.  They  did  so 
in  good  order  for  the  first  hour ;  but  this  was  con- 
verted into  a  frightful  disorder  the  moment  that  our 
divisions  of  dragoons  and  cuirassiers,  having  the 
grand-duke  of  Berg  at  their  head,  were  able  to  take 
part  in  the  affair.  These  brave  soldiers,  trembling 
to  behold  the  victory  decided  without  them,  threw 
themselves  upon  the  enemy  in  all  directions.  Nei- 
ther horse  nor  foot  could  withstand  the  shock.  In 
vain  did  the  Prussians  form  in  square  battalions. 
Five  of  them  were  broken  through ;  artillery, 
cavalry,  all,  were  overthrown  and  taken.  The 
French  reached  Weimar  at  the  same  time  with  the 
enemy,  who  were  thus  pursued  for  six  leagues. 

"  On  our  right,  marshal  Davoust  was  performing 
prodigies.  He  not  only  restrained,  but  continued 
lighting  with  the  whole  of  the  hostile  troops  which 
were  to  have  defiled  by  Koesen. 

"  The  results  of  the  battle  are :  thirty  to  forty 
thousand  prisoners  more  are  being  brought  in  every 
minute  ;  five-and- twenty  to  thirty  flags,  three  hun- 


ANECDOTES.  133 

tired  pieces  of  cannon,  and  immense  magazines  of 
provision.  Among  the  prisoners  are  more  than 
twenty  generals,  some  of  them  lieutenant-generals, 
and,  among  others,  lieutenant-general  Schmettau. 
The  number  of  dead  in  the  Prussian  army  is  im- 
mense. It  is  reckoned  that  about  twenty  thousand 
are  killed  or  wounded ;  field-marshal  Mollendorff 
has  been  wounded;  the  duke  of  Brunswick  is  killed, 
also  general  Blucher ;  and  Prince  Henry  of  Prussia 
is  grievously  wounded.  By  the  account  of  the 
prisoners,  deserters,  and  such  like,  the  disorder  and 
confusion  in  the  remains  of  the  hostile  army  are 
extreme. 

"  The  Prussian  army  has,  in  this  battle,  been 
foiled  in  its  retreat,  and  lost  all  its  line  of  opera- 
tions. Its  left,  pursued  by  marshal  Davoust,  effected 
a  retreat  upon  Weimar,  at  the  same  time  that  its 
right  and  centre  retired  from  Weimar  upon  Naum- 
burg.  The  confusion,  therefore,  was  extreme. 
The  king  was  compelled  to  retire  from  the  field  at 
the  head  of  his  regiment  of  cavalry. 

"  Our  loss  is  reckoned  at  a  thousand  or  twelve 
hundred  killed,  and  three  thousand  wounded.  The 
grand-duke  of  Berg  was  at  this  time  investing 
Erfurt,  where  he  found  a  body  of  the  enemy,  com- 
manded by  marshal  Mollendorff  and  the  Prince  of 
Orange.  If  it  could  enhance  the  claims  which  the 
army  has  to  the  esteem  and  consideration  of  the 
nation,  nothing  could  surpass  the  favourable  senti- 
ments felt  by  those  who  were  witnesses  of  the  en- 


134  ANECDOTES. 

thusiasm  and  love  which  were  evinced  towards  the 
emperor  in  the  heat  of  the  battle.  Wherever  there 
was  a  moment's  hesitation,  the  mere  cry  of  'Vive 
VEmpereur  /'  reanimated  the  courage  of  all.  In 
the  midst  of  the  struggle,  the  emperor  seeing  his 
eagles  menaced  by  the  cavalry,  galloped  forward 
Jo  order  manoeuvres  and  changes  in  the  squares ; 
he  was  interrupted  every  moment  by  the  cri^s  of 
'Vive  VEmpereur!]  The  Imperial  foot-guards,  be- 
held with  a  spleen  they  were  unable  to  conceal, 
everybody  engaged,  and  themselves  inactive.  Seve- 
ral voices  shouted  c Forward!' — 'How  now?'  said 
the  emperor,  '  this  can  only  be  some  beardless 
young  man  who  ventures  to  prejudge  my  actions : 
let  him  wait  until  he  has  commanded  in  thirty 
pitched  battles  before  pretending  to  advise  me.' 
It  was,  in  effect,  some  recruits  who  were  anxious 
to  signalize  their  youthful  valour. 

"  In  so  warm  a  fight,  in  which  the  enemy  lost 
almost  all  their  generals,  we  should  thank  that 
Providence  which  watched  over  our  army,  that  no 
man  of  note  has  been  killed  or  wounded.  Marshal 
Lannes  had  his  breast  scratched  without  being 
wounded.  Marshal  Davoust  had  his  hat  carried 
away,  and  a  great  number  of  bails  in  his  clothes." 


NAPOLEON    IN    SPAIN. 


135 


CHAPTER   XV. 

FROM    THE    INTERVIEW    OF    ERFURT     TO    THE 
RUSSIAN    WAR. 


ETERMINED  to  subdue  Spain, 
Napoleon  strengthened  his  alliance 
with  Alexander,  by  an  interview  at 
Erfurt,  in  September  ard  October, 
1808 ;  and,  secure  of  the  pacific 
intentions  of  that  emperor,  he  re- 
called his  legions  from  the  banks  of  the  Niemen, 
the  Spree,  the  Elbe,  and  the  Danube,  and  directed 
them  against  Spain, — where  his  presence,  at  the 
head  of  his  veterans,  soon  changed  the  aspect  of 
things.  The  battles  of  Burgos,  Espinosa,  and 
Tudela,  in  which  his  eagles  were  triumphant,  once 
more  opened  to  Joseph  the  gates  of  Madrid.  Ar- 
rived in  that  capital,  Napoleon  promised  franchises 
and  the  abolition  of  feudalism  to  the  Spaniards ; 
but  he  spoke  to  a  people  who  scarcely  understood 
him,  who  had  no  ears  but  for  their  priests,  and 
whose  heroism  displayed  itself  only  in  their  im- 
patience of  a  foreign  yoke.  Their  answers  to  the 
liberal  promises  of  the  usurper  were  cries  of  exe- 


136  BATTLE    OF    WAGRAM. 

cration  and  rage.  They  organized  themselves  into 
guerilla  bands,  who  converted  Spain  into  a  second 
Vendee  for  the  troops  of  France.  Everywhere,  the 
population  rose,  and  flew  to  arms ;  and  the  vow  of 
national  independence  became  a  bond  to  unite  the 
constitutionalists  with  the  partisans  of  the  clergy, 
against  their  common  enemy,  France.  The  En- 
glish were  approaching,  and  Napoleon  marched  to 
meet  them.  But  his  course  was  suddenly  arrested 
by  the  intelligence  that  Austria,  emboldened  by  his 
absence  and  the  withdrawal  of  his  veteran  troops, 
had  formed  a  fifth  coalition  with  England  and  the 
Holy  See  (1809) ;  and  that  the  archduke  Charles 
was,  again,  in  arms,  and  with  difficulty  held  in 
check  by  Davoust,  whose  force  was  inferior.  Na- 
poleon instantly  quitted  Spain,  flew  to  the  Rhine, 
triumphed  at  Eckmuhl  and  at  Ratisbonne  ;  and  the 
French  army  entered,  a  second  time,  as  victors, 
into  the  capital  of  Austria.  On  the  22d  of  May, 
was  fought,  on  some  islands  in  the  Danube,  the 
bloody  and  undecisive  battle  of  Essling  ;  in  which 
the  emperor  lost  thousands  of  brave  men,  and  his 
friend  Lannes,  duke  of  Montebello.  The  corps  of 
Marmont  and  Eugene  rejoined  the  grand  army,  and 
repaired  its  losses  ;  and,  after  the  victory  of  Raab, 
the  terrible  battle  of  Wagram,  in  which  no  less 
than  twelve  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  swept  the 
ranks  of  the  two  armies,  terminated  the  war,  in 
favour  of  France.  The  vanquished  Francis  I. 
signed,  on  the  14th  of  October,  the  peace  of  Vienna 


WAR    IN    THE    PENINSULA.  137 

whereby  he  ceded  several  provinces,  and  gave  in 
his  adherence  to  the  continental  system.  Pope 
Pius  VII.,  who,  groaning  under  the  partition  of  his 
territories,  had  given  his  countenance  to  this  coa- 
lition, and  threatened  the  emperor  with  the  thunders 
of  the  Vatican,  was  dethroned  from  his  temporal 
sovereignty,  brutally  torn  from  the  pontifical  palace, 
and  consigned  to  a  four  years'  captivity,  first  at 
Savone,  and  afterwards  at  Fontainbleau ;  and  the 
ancient  metropolis  of  the  world  was  degraded  into 
the  capital  of  a  French  department.  A  numerous 
English  army  had,  during  this  campaign,  at- 
tempted a  descent  upon  Holland ;  Flushing  had 
fallen  into  their  power,  and  Antwerp  was  menaced 
by  them.  But  the  strong  defensive  condition  of 
this  place,  and  a  levy  of  national  guards  in  the 
northern  departments,  rendered  their  efforts  un- 
availing. Their  ranks  were  thinned  by  sickness 
in  the  marshes  of  Zealand  ;  and  they  evacuated 
Flushing,  after  having  sustained  considerable  losses. 
The  resistance  to  Napoleon's  arms  in  the  peninsula 
was,  however,  continued,  notwithstanding  numerous 
victories  gained  by  his  generals.  Sebastiani  had 
triumphed  at  Ciudad-Real,  Victor  at  Medelin,  and 
Soult  at  Oporto,  where  twenty  thousand  Portuguese 
were  left  upon  the  field  of  battle.  But  the  lofty 
example  of  Palafox,  the  defender  of  Saragossa,  and 
the  heroic  conduct  of  the  inhabitants  of  that  town, 
who  buried  themselves  beneath  its  ruins  rather  than 
submit  to  the  conqueror,  excited  the  enthusiasm, 


138  WAR    IN    THE    PENINSULA. 

and  redoubled  the  energies  of  the  Spaniards.  The 
English,  hailed  by  them  as  deliverers,  successfully 
seconded  their  efforts.  On  the  28th  of  July,  Jo- 
seph fought,  against  Sir  Arthur  Wellesley,  the  un- 
decisive battle  of  Talavera, — which,  however,  the 
English  celebrated  as  a  victory.  In  vain  did  Se- 
bastiani  triumph,  on  the  21st  of  August,  at  Almon- 
acid  ;  and  Mortier,  with  twenty-five  thousand  men, 
overthrow  fifty  thousand,  at  Ocana,  on  the  19th  of 
November ;  in  vain  was  Andalusia  open  to  the 
French  ; — Spain  was  still  unsubdued.  Soult  in  the 
south,  and  Suchet  in  the  north,  commenced  the 
campaign  of  1810.  Granada,  Malaga,  and  Seville, 
were  occupied  by  the  French  ;  and  the  provisional 
junta  of  Seville  removed  to  Cadiz,  which  was  un- 
successfully besieged  by  marshal  Victor.  It  was 
at  this  period  that  South  America  threw  off  the 
Spanish  yoke,  and  proclaimed  the  federal  govern- 
ment of  Venezuela.  Massena,  prince  of  Essling, 
at  the  same  time,  sustained  the  war  in  Portugal 
against  Wellington,  whose  army  was  greatly  supe- 
rior to  that  of  the  French  :  but  the  success  of  the 
campaign  was  compromised  by  a  serious  misunder- 
standing which  arose  betwixt  him  and  marshal  Ney. 
He  marched  upon  the  capital,  was  beaten  at  Busa- 
co, — and  his  progress  finally  arrested,  in  the  month 
of  December,  by  Wellington,  before  the  formidable 
lines  of  Torres  Vedras,  which  covered  Lisbon. 

Whilst  the  peninsula  was  thus  devouring   the 
flower  of  the  French  armies,  Napoleon  attained  J*e 


BERNADOTTE.  139 

highest  point  of  his  marvellous  destinies.  Induced 
alike  by  his  anxiety  for  an  heir,  and  his  desire  to 
ally  himself  with  the  old  European  dynasties,  he 
divorced  his  first  wife,  Josephine  de  Beauharnais, 
and,  on  the  30th  of  March,  1810,  married  Maria- 
Louisa,  archduchess  of  Austria,  and  daughter  of  the 
emperor  Francis. 

Holland  was,  in  this  year,  united  with  France  ; 
and  Napoleon  dethroned  his  brother  Louis,  whose 
kingdom  had  become  an  entrepot  for  English  mer- 
chandise. On  this  occasion  the  Moniteur  gave 
publicity  to  the  policy  of  the  emperor  relatively  to 
those  on  whom  he  conferred  crowns.  'Know,'  said 
he,  to  the  kings,  his  brothers,  i  that  your  first  duties 
are  towards  me  and  France.'  The  revelation  to 
Europe  of  this  egotistical  policy  had  a  powerful 
share  in  contributing  to  array  it  against  him.  One 
of  his  generals  was,  at  this  period,  chosen  to  the 
succession  of  the  Swedish  throne.  Charles  XIII., 
who  reigned  in  that  kingdom,  since  the  deposition, 
in  1809,  of  the  violent  and  imprudent  Gustavus  IV., 
adopted  as  his  son,  in  1810,  Bernadotte,  the  prince 
of  Ponte-Corvo,  elected,  by  the  States-general, 
prince  royal  of  Sweden.  Napoleon  saw,  in  this 
election,  an  event  likely  to  complete  the  submission 
of  the  north  to  his  system, — not  for  a  moment  an- 
ticipating that  his  lieutenant  might,  one  day,  prefer 
the  interests  of  the  people  over  whom  he  reigned 
to  those  of  his  native  country, — and  he,  accordingly, 
permitted   him  to  accept  the  royal  destiny  which 


140  FEELING    OF    EUROPE. 

presented  itself.  Sweden,  since  the  accession  of 
Charles  XIII.,  had  adhered  to  the  continental  sys- 
tem ;  and  there  was  a  moment  during  which  the 
hlockade  was  observed  throughout  the  whole  of 
Europe.  The  French  empire,  augmented  by  the 
Roman  States,  the  lllyrian  provinces,  the  Valais, 
Holland,  and  the  Hanseatic  towns,  consisted  of  one 
hundred  and  thirty  departments,  and  extended  from 
Hamburg  and  Dantzick  to  Trieste  and  Corfu.  Na- 
poleon reigned  over  fifty  millions  of  subjects ;  and 
the  birth,  in  March,  1811,  of  a  son,  who  was  pro- 
claimed king  of  Rome  in  his  cradle,  appeared  to 
consolidate  his  prodigious  fortune,  by  securing  to 
him  a  successor.  But,  at  this  very  period,  all  the 
interests  encroached  upon  by  this  colossal  power, 
were  preparing  a  formidable  reaction  against  it. 
Napoleon,  wedded  to  an  Austrian  princess,  the 
creator  of  a  new  nobility,  surrounded  by  the  ancient 
array  of  courts,  and  attached  to  all  the  puerilities 
of  a  strict  etiquette,  sought  to  disavow  his  popular 
origin,  and  alienated  from  himself  the  partisans  of 
the  revolution,  without  gaining  over  the  friends  of 
the  old  regime  in  their  place,  and  without  being 
sincerely  adopted  as  their  equal  by  the  sovereigns 
of  the  ancient  European  dynasties.  At  home,  his 
despotism  appeared  the  more  oppressive  in  propor- 
tion as  the  effect  of  his  victories  was  weakened  by 
their  frequency;  —  abroad,  Russia,  Sweden,  and 
Holland,  wounded  in  their  commercial  interests, 
awaited  but  a  favourable  opportunity  for  shaking 


SIXTH    CONFEDERACY    AGAINST    NAPOLEON.       141 

off  the  yoke  of  his  continental  system,  as  Austria 
did,  also,  that  of  regaining  her  lost  provinces. 
Prussia  had  heavy  indignities  to  avenge.  A  great 
fermentation  prevailed  throughout  her  universities ; 
whence  issued  the  cry  of  independence  and  rage 
against  the  oppressor  of  Europe ;  and  already  Na- 
poleon, in  his  residence  at  Schoenbrun,  had  nar- 
rowly escaped  perishing  by  the  dagger  of  the  stu- 
dent Stabs.  Spain  and  Portugal,  supported  by 
England,  opposed  an  invincible  resistance  to  his 
arms ;  and  the  clergy,  indignant  at  his  spoliation 
of  the  temporal  patrimony  of  Saint  Peter,  openly 
conspired  against  him.  Napoleon  had,  by  his  own 
system,  condemned  himself  to  a  perpetual  struggle 
against  the  league  of  dynasties,  of  nations,  of  the 
priesthood,  and  of  commerce,  —  and  was  over- 
whelmed by  that  struggle,  in  the  end. 

Towards  the  close  of  1811,  a  commercial  ukase 
re-opened  the  ports  of  Russia  to  the  colonial  pro- 
duce of  England,  and  the  armies  of  Alexander  ap- 
proached the  Niemen.  At  the  same  time,  Sweden 
renounced  her  adhesion  to  the  continental  system ; 
and,  shortly  afterwards,  a  sixth  confederation  against 
France  was  formed  between  England,  Russia,  Swe- 
den, Spain,  and  Portugal, — France  being  voluntarily 
seconded  by  Italy  and  Poland,  and  constrainedly 
so,  by  Germany,  Prussia,  and  Austria.  The  sultan 
Mahmoud,  the  successor  of  Selim,  who  had  been 
slain  by  the  janissaries,  entered,  at  this  period,  into 
treaty  with  Russia,  and  signed  the  peace  of  Bucha- 


142 


WAR    AGAINST    RUSSIA. 


rest.  Napoleon  repaired  to  Dresden;  where  his 
court  was  composed  of  most  of  «the  crowned  heads 
and  princes  in  Europe;  —  and  there  he  made  final 
but  fruitless  efforts  to  re-attach  Alexander  to  his 
system.  That  which  he  failed  in  obtaining  by- 
means  of  persuasion,  he  determined  to  secure  by 
force  of  arms  ;  and  war  was  declared  against  Rus- 
*r.  -n  the  22d  of  June,  1812. 


RUSSIAN    CAMPAIGN. 


143 


CHAPTER   XVI 


FROM  THE  COMMENCEMENT  OF  THE  RUSSIAN  CAMPAIGN 
TO  THE  ABDICATION  OF  NAPOLEON  AT  FONTAIN- 
BLEAU. 


APOLEON  took  the  field,  at  the 
head  of  four  hundred  thousand  sol- 
diers, passed  the  Niemen,  on  the 
24th  of  June,  with  half  his  forces, 
and  halted  at  Wilna  seventeen  days. 
That  delay  was  fatal  to  his  arms. 
The  diet  of  Warsaw,  during  his  sojourn  in  Poland, 
proclaimed  the  re-establishment  of  the  kingdom, 
and  the  liberation  of  the  entire  nation.  A  deputa- 
tion demanded  of  the  emperor  that  he  should  re- 
cognise the  existence  of  Poland.  Napoleon  hesi- 
tated, and  gave  finally  an  evasive  answer.  After  a 
glorious  action,  he  arrived  at  Witepsk,  the  hostile 
army,  under  the  command  of  Barclay  de  Tolly, 
retiring  before  him.  A  bloody  battle  was  fought 
before  Smolensko,  which  was  abandoned  to  the 
flames.  The  Russians  fell  back,  and  the  French 
continued  to  advance.  Valoutina  witnessed  a  mur- 
derous conflict;  but  the  disobedience  of  one  of 


144  BATTLE    OF    MOSCOW. 

Napoleon's  generals,  saved  the  army  of  the  enemv 
from  total  destruction.  Still,  however,  that  army 
retreated,  followed  by  the  emperor.  At  length,  on 
the  5th  of  September,  the  grand  army  arrived  on 
the  plains  of  Borodino,  a  few  miles  from  Moscow, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Moskowa,  and  found  itself  in 
presence  of  the  whole  Russian  army,  commanded 
by  the  veteran  Kutusoff.  A  general  engagemenr 
was  determined  on,  for  the  following  day ;  and,  on 
that  memorable  morning,  IVapoleon,  issuing  from 
his  tent,  thus  addressed  his  officers : — *  How  bright, 
to-day,  is  the  sun! — it  is  the  sun  of  Austerlitz!' 
Then,  in  a  proclamation  to  his  soldiers,  he  said, — 
4  The  battle  is  now  at  hand  for  which  you  have  so 
longed :  acquit  yourselves  as  you  did  at  Austerlitz, 
at  Friedland,  at  Witepsk,  at  Smolensko ;  and  let 
posterity  the  most  remote  refer  with  pride  to  your 
deeds  of  this  day.  Let  men  say  of  each  of  you, 
when  they  shall  behold  you,  —  "He  was  at  that 
great  battle  on  the  plains  of  Moscow!"'  The 
tight  began  almost  immediately  afterwards,  and 
was  a  terrible  one.  Ney,  Murat,  Eugene,  Davoust, 
Gerard,  and  Poniatowski,  performed  prodigies  of 
valour.  Auguste  Caulaincourt  was  mortally  wound- 
ed, while  carrying,  in  a  gallop,  a  formidable  redoubt, 
at  the  head  of  his  cuirassiers.  The  Russians  at 
length  gave  way,  after  a  most  sanguinary  struggle. 
Napoleon  restrained  his  guards,  and  suffered  the 
enemy,  whom  he  might  have  annihilated,  to  escape. 
Twenty-two  thousand  French,  and  fifty  thousand 


DRAWING   A   PLAN   OF   ATTACK   IN   THE   SNOW. 


BURNING    OF    MOSCOW.  145 

Russians  were  killed  or  wounded  on  that  murderous 
day.  A  great  number  of  the  generals  of  France 
were  slain  ;  but  the  victory  was  hers,  and  marshal 
Ney  was  proclaimed  prince  of  the  Moskowa,  on 
die  field  of  battle.  A  second  engagement  took 
place,  at  Mojaisk,  half  a  league  from  Moscow, 
where  the  Russians  were  again  beaten  ;  and  their 
arm)  entered  into  the  ancient  capital  of  their  em- 
pire, only  to  abandon  it.  Thither  the  French  pene- 
trated, after  them  :  but  were  astonished  at  the  soli- 
tude which  reigned  within  its  walls.  The  streets 
were  deserts,  and  the  inhabitants  had  fled.  Napo- 
leon entered,  unresisted,  into  the  ancient  citadel  of 
the  Kremlin.  Moscow  he  looked  upon  as  an  asy- 
lum, after  the  sufferings  and  fatigues  of  his  army. 
He  found  immense  resources  within  the  city,  and 
here,  therefore,  he  resolved  to  establish  his  winter 
quarters, — and  looked  proudly  around  on  his  con- 
quest. But,  during  the  night,  a  frightful  conflagra- 
tion broke  out.  Rostopchin,  the  governor  of  the 
city,  had  determined,  in  evacuating  it,  on  an  im- 
mense sacrifice,  for  the  salvation  of  his  country. 
Russia  was  lost,  if  the  French  should  find  a  shelter 
in  Moscow.  At  an  appointed  signal,  and  by  order 
of  Rostopchin,  a  band  of  convicts  spread  themselves 
throughout  the  city,  carrying  flame  in  their  hands, 
and  set  fire  to  it  in  a  thousand  parts.  Moscow 
crumbled  away  beneath  the  conflagration ;  and 
little  more  of  her  was  left,  in  a  few  hours,  than  a 
heap  of  cinders  and  ruins. 

K 


146  PASSAGE    OF    THE    BERESINA. 

The  winter  was  approaching,  and  the  French 
had  no  longer  an  asylum  to  look  forward  to  against 
its  rigours.  Napoleon  still  flattered  himself  with 
the  hope  of  peace,  and  Alexander  prolonged  the 
negotiations  purposely,  with  the  view  of  detaining 
his  enemy  amid  the  ruins  of  Moscow.  At  length, 
however,  the  negotiations  were  broken  up,  and  the 
order  was  issued  for  retreat.  The  emperor  quitted 
the  city  at  the  head  of  a  hundred  thousand  fighting 
men,  after  forty  days  of  fruitless  expectation. — 
4  Your  day  of  warfare  is  ended,'  had  said  old 
Kutusoff,  6  and  ours  is  about  to  begin.'  The  win- 
ter set  in  suddenly,  with  more  than  its  usual  rigour, 
even  in  the  heart  of  Russia.  The  French  troops, 
paralysed  by  the  cold,  were  pursued  and  harassed 
in  their  retreat  by  innumerable  enemies,  and  the 
roads  were  covered  with  their  frozen  corses.  Still, 
however,  the  army  marched  in  tolerable  order  as 
far  as  the  Beresina,  which  it  had  to  cross  in  the 
presence  of  three  Russian  armies.  The  river  was, 
as  yet,  unfrozen  over,  though  covered  with  floating 
ice.  It  was  necessary  to  construct  rafts,  under  the 
fire  of  the  enemy,  and  at  the  same  Vine  make  head 
against  them  unceasingly.  At  this  place  were, 
again,  achieved  prodigies  of  heroism;  but  the  rafts 
were  encumbered  by  multitudes  of  stragglers  and 
disarmed  soldiers,  and,  yielding  to  the  pressure, 
thousands  of  men  were  engulfed  in  the  waters  of 
the  Beresina.  At  length,  after  incredible  efforts, 
this  formidable  barrier  was  cleared  :  but  the  moral 


RETREAT   FROM    MOSCOW. 


DEFECTION    OF    THE    ALLIES.  147 

as  well  as  physical  strength  of  the  soldiers  was 
beaten  down  ;  the  cold  set  in  afresh,  with  renewed 
rigour  ;  and  the  retreat  was,  thenceforth,  one  vast 
and  frightful  rout. 

Paris  had  been  twenty-one  days  without  tidings 
of  the  emperor  and  the  grand  army ;  and  a  prison- 
er, general  Mallet,  spreading  a  report  in  that  capital 
of  Napoleon's  death,  had  nearly  accomplished  the 
suspension  of  his  government.  The  emperor,  how- 
ever, had  foreseen  that  his  presence  in  Paris  was 
indispensable,  to  counteract  the  plots  of  his  enemies, 
and  create  new  military  resources.  On  the  5th  of 
December,  he  quitted  his  shattered  army,  the  com- 
mand of  which  he  gave  to  the  king  of  Naples,  and 
which  arrived  at  Wilna,  stripped  of  every  thing. 
Ney  strove  to  reanimate  it  by  his  own  heroic  exam- 
ple. He  wras  prodigal  in  the  exposure  of  his  own 
life,  for  its  defence,  and  was  the  last  to  retire,  con- 
fronting the  enemy,  now  as  general,  and  now  as  a 
common  soldier. 

But  with  the  reverses  of  the  French  arms,  com- 
menced the  defections  of  the  allies  of  France.  The 
Prussians,  who  covered  the  right  of  the  army,  dur- 
ing its  retreat,  abandoned  Macdonald,  at  Tilsit. 
The  Austrians,  commanded  by  Schwartzenberg, 
followed  the  example,  treated  with  the  enemy,  and 
by  their  secession  left  the  army  exposed  on  the 
opposite  wing,  Murat,  himself,  the  commander-in- 
chief,  abandoned  his  post,  and  deserted.  Eugene 
assumed  the  command,  and  restored  order.   France 


148  napoleon's  new  army. 

had,  in  the  meantime,  made  a  new  effort,  and  given 
a  fresh  army  to  Napoleon,  at  the  head  of  which  he 
marched  to  meet  Eugene.  Austria,  seized  with 
alarm,  made  fresh  protestations  of  fidelity ;  while 
Prussia  entered  into  treaty  with  Russia,  at  Kalisch, 
and  England,  by  the  promise  of  Norway  to  Sweden, 
purchased  the  active  co-operation  of  Bernadotte 
against  France.  Napoleon,  threatened  on  every 
side,  rejoined,  on  the  30th  of  April,  1813,  Eugene 
and  the  wreck  of  his  grand  army,  at  Lutzen.  He 
gained,  with  an  army  of  conscripts,  the  brilliant 
victories  of  Lutzen,  Bautzen,  and  Wurschen, 
against  the  veteran  troops  of  Europe;  and  then 
negotiated  anew  for  peace.  A  congress  was  opened 
at  Prague,  on  the  4th  of  June,  and  Napoleon  ac- 
cepted the  mediation  of  Austria ;  who  demanded 
that  the  French  empire  should  be  bounded  by  the 
Rhine,  the  Alps,  and  the  Meuse.  The  emperor 
hesitated ;  the  congress  was  suddenly  dissolved, 
without  result,  and  Austria  declared  war  against 
France.  The  allies  had  five  hundred  thousand 
men,  under  Schwartzenberg,  Blucher,  and  Berna- 
dotte, the  prince  royal  of  Sweden  :  Napoleon  had 
only  three  hundred  thousand,  forming  eleven  divi- 
sions, under  the  several  commands  of  Vandamme, 
Victor,  Bertrand,  Ney,  Lauriston,  Marmont,  Rey- 
nier,  Poniatowski,  Macdonald,  Oudinot,  and  Saint- 
Cyr.  The  cavalry  was  commanded  by  the  king 
of  Naples,  Latour-Maubourg,  Sebastiani,  and  Kel- 
lermann  •   Mortier  and  Nansouty   led  the  guard ; 


BATTLE    OF    LEIPSIC.  149 

and  these  forces  formed  the  last  hope  of  France. 
Wherever  Napoleon  fought  in  person,  he  was  vic- 
torious. He  gave  battle  under  the  walls  of  Dres- 
den, and  triumphed  ;  general  Moreau,  his  ancient 
rival  in  glory,  being  mortally  wounded  in  the  ene- 
mies' ranks.  But  Vandamme  suffered  a  terrible 
reverse  at  Kulm,  where  he  was  made  prisoner,  and 
lost  ten  thousand  men.  The  three  sovereigns, 
Alexander,  Francis,  and  Frederick- William,  nego- 
tiated a  triple  alliance,  at  Toplitz :  and  the  emperor 
of  Austria,  himself,  appointed  their  meeting  in  the 
camp  of  his  son-in-law,  whom  he  designated  as  the 
common  enemy.  The  allied  armies  daily  increased ; 
and  several  unfortunate  actions  were  fought  with 
inferior  forces.  Oudinot  was  beaten  at  Grosberen, 
Ney  at  Dennewitz,  Macdonald  at  the  Katzbach. 
The  king  of  Bavaria  declared  war  against  Napo- 
leon ;  and  the  French,  hemmed  in  on  all  sides,  re- 
tired upon  Leipsic.  Thus  did  the  emperor  expe- 
rience the  fata1  consequences  of  his  oppressive  sys- 
tem. So  lor»g  as  he  was  victorious,  Europe,  under 
the  influence  of  fear,  was  silent  and  submissive 
before  him  ;  but  in  the  moment  of  his  reverses,  all 
the  classes  whose  prejudices  or  whose  interests  he 
had  wounded,  revolted  at  once,  and  combined  for 
his  destruction. 

A  sanguinary  battle  was  fought  beneath  the  walls 
of  Leipsic ;  where  a  hundred  and  thirty  thousand 
French  contended  against  three  hundred  thousand 
soldiers  of  the  enemy.   The  former  were  abandoned 


J  50  NAPOLEON    RETREATS. 

and  betrayed  by  the  Saxons,  whose  old  king  was 
the  last  that  had  remained  faithful  to  Napoleon. 
This  defection  compromised  the  safety  of  the  army; 
and  Napoleon  commanded  a  retreat,  which  was 
effected  by  the  single  bridge  over  the  Elster.  Sud- 
denly an  order,  misunderstood,  and  but  too  rapidly 
executed,  caused  the  bridge  to  be  blown  up,  before 
the  army  had  completed  the  passage.  This  disas- 
ter decided  the  fate  of  the  campaign.  Twenty 
thousand  men  were  made  prisoners ;  two  hundred 
pieces  of  cannon,  and  an  immense  war  materiel, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  allies ;  and  a  multitude 
of  brave  men,  amongst  whom  was  the  heroic  Ponia- 
towski,  perished  in  the  waters  of  the  river.  Napo- 
leon, pursued  by  the  enemy,  arrested  him  yet  once 
more,  and  overthrew  him  in  the  glorious  battle  of 
Hanau.  After  this,  he  established  himself  on  the 
Rhine ;  whilst  the  allies  encamped  opposite  to  him, 
and  made  their  head-quarters  at  Frankfort. 

By  this  time,  Spain  was  irrevocably  lost  to 
France.  Two  great  battles  lost,  one  by  Marmont, 
in  1812,  and  another,  at  Vittoria,  by  king  Joseph 
in  1813,  had  brought  Wellington  to  the  Pyrenees 
Soult,  subsequently  appointed  commander-in-chief 
in  the  peninsula,  had  sustained  the  war,  at  the  head 
of  sixty  thousand  men,  against  forces  far  superior ; 
and  the  emperor,  at  the  close  of  1813,  possessed, 
in  all  Spain,  only  the  little  port  of  Santona.  Eugene 
still  defended  himself  in  Italy ;  whilst  even  Murat 
had  deserted  the  cause  of  Napoleon. 


DISAFFECTION    TO    NAPOLEON.  151 

France  now  beheld  herself,  once  more,  menaced 
in  her  ancient  limits,  as  she  had  been  in  1789  ;  but 
her  population  had  no  longer,  as  then,  the  impulse 
of  independence  which  had  enabled  them  to  free 
her  territory.  All  those  who  had  either  applauded, 
or  consented  to  the  elevation  of  Napoleon,  had 
separated  themselves  from  him.  His  conscriptions, 
his  blockades,  his  military  courts,  and  his  accumu- 
lated taxes,  had  all  become  intolerable  to  the  nation. 
Bonaparte  had,  in  the  day  of  his  prosperity,  abused 
France,  and  misinterpreted  her  wishes ;  and,  in  the 
day  of  his  danger,  France  abandoned  him.  At  the 
close  of  1813,  he  made  preparations  for  a  new 
campaign ;  and  the  senate,  still  complying,  granted 
him  three  hundred  thousand  men;  but  the  legislative 
body  ventured,  for  the  first  time,  to  resist.  M.Laine, 
in  the  name  of  a  committee  chosen  by  that  body, 
made  a  report  hostile  to  the  measures  of  govern- 
ment, and  demanding  the  abandonment  of  conquest 
and  the  re-establishment  of  liberty.  An  address 
to  the  emperor,  in  the  spirit  of  this  report,  was 
voted  by  a  large  majority.  Napoleon,  irritated  by 
an  opposition  so  unexpected,  and,  in  the  face  of  an 
enemy,  so  dangerous,  closed  the  doors  of  the  legis- 
lative body,  ordered  its  dissolution,  and  dismissed 
that  assembly  in  person,  with  haughty  and  reproach- 
ful words.  From  that  day,  the  domestic  defections 
began  ;  and  Europe  was  suffered  to  perceive,  by 
this  imprudent  outbreak  of  Napoleon,  that  the  nation 
no  longer  made  common  cause  with  its  emperor. 


152  FRANCE    INVADED. 

In  the  commencement  of  1814,  the  entire  male 
population  of  the  east  was  summoned  to  arms, 
thirty  thousand  men  of  the  national  guard  of  Paris 
fvere  put  in  motion,  and  the  last  resources  of  the 
empire  were  called  into  action.  Marie-Louise  was 
declared  regent ;  and  Napoleon  took  the  field,  on 
the  25th  of  January,  after  having  intrusted  the 
command  of  the  capital  to  his  brother  Joseph.  The 
English  were  advancing  by  the  south ;  one  hundred 
and  fifty  thousand  men,  under  Schwartzenberg,  were 
pouring  into  France,  by  way  of  Switzerland  ,•  a  bun 
dred  and  thirty  thousand  Prussians,  commanded  by 
Blucher,  were  approaching  from  Frankfort ;  and, 
finally,  a  hundred  thousand  Swedes  and  Germans 
were  penetrating  into  Belgium,  under  Bernadotte. 
General  Maison  in  the  north,  Augereau  at  Lyons, 
and  Soult  in  the  Pyrenees,  were  commissioned  to 
arrest  the  enemy.  The  emperor,  himself,  marched 
into  Champagne,  against  Schwartzenberg  and 
Blucher  ;  whilst  Eugene  still  struggled  in  Italy, 
and  a  congress  opened  conferences  for  peace  at 
Chatillon.  Napoleon,  in  the  face  of  these  accumu- 
lated dangers,  was  once  more  visited  by  the  most 
brilliant  inspirations  of  his  genius,  and  redoubled 
at  once  his  daring  and  his  activity.  Never  had  he 
been  more  profound  in  his  strategic  combinations, 
or  more  skilful  in  their  execution.  He  all  but  de- 
stroyed the  two  most  formidable  amongst  the  hostile 
armies,  attacking  them  in  succession.  Blucher  he 
crushed  at  Champ-Aubert,  at  Montmirail,  and  at 


CAPTURE    OF    PARIS.  153 

Chateau-Thierry;  and  then  flung  himself  upon  the 
Austrians,  and  overthrew  them  at  Montereau.  But 
these  successes  became  fatal  to  him,  by,  the  confi- 
dence which  they  inspired.  He  could  not,  yet, 
bring  himself  to  accept  the  propositions  of  the 
allied  powers,  and  consent  that  France  should  re- 
turn within  her  ancient  boundaries.  The  enemy, 
however,  was  triumphant  wherever  Napoleon  was 
not  present  in  person.  The  English  entered  Bor- 
deaux, which  declared  for  the  Bourbons  ;  the  Aus- 
trians occupied  Lyons, — and  the  allies  marched,  in 
concert,  upon  Paris.  Then,  at  length,  Napoleon 
subscribed  to  the  demands  of  the  congress ;  but  it 
was  now  too  late, — the  conferences  were  dissolved. 
Joseph  had  orders  to  defend  Paris  to  the  last  ex- 
tremity. The  emperor  reckoned  on  his  power  to 
do  this,  and  conceived  the  daring  project  of  cutting 
off  the  retreat  of  the  allies,  by  throwing  himself 
rapidly  behind  them,  at  Saint-Dizier.  This  step, 
which  might,  yet,  have  saved  his  crown,  had  it  been 
seconded,  had  only  the  effect  of  causing  him  to  lose 
time  which  was  most  precious.  The  two  great 
armies  of  the  allied  powers  had  effected  their  junc- 
tion, and  were  approaching  the  capital,  which  Ma- 
rie-Louise evacuated,  with  her  son,  transporting  the 
regency  to  Blois.  Napoleon  returned  with  all  sper3d 
towards  Paris,  but  he  was  now  too  late.  Marshals 
Marmont  and  Mortier  had,  on  the  30th  of  March, 
fought  a  glorious  battle  under  the  walls  of  the  city, 
with  only  twenty  thousand  men,  opposed  to  the 


154  DEFECTIONS    FROM    NAPOLEON. 

entire  force  of  the  enemy.  They  were  ignorant 
that  the  emperor  was  close  at  hand ;  and  Joseph 
gave  the  ortler  to  capitulate,  abandoned  his  post, 
set  out  for  Orleans,  and  the  allied  troops  entered 
Paris  on  the  3 1  st  of  March.  Napoleon  was  has- 
tening to  the  relief  of  the  capital,  when,  on  the  1st 
of  April,  he  received  this  terrible  news.  He  in- 
stantly fell  back  upon  Fontainbleau,  where  his  army 
took  up  its  position.-  There,  he  learned  that  the 
senate,  which  had  so  debased  itself  by  its  servility 
and  adulation,  had  now  proclaimed  him  a  tyrant, 
and,  under  the  direction  of  M.  de  Talleyrand,  de- 
clared 'That  Napoleon  had  forfeited  the  crown, — 
that  the  right  of  succession  in  his  family  was  abro- 
gated,— and  that  the  French  people  and  army  were 
released  from  their  oath  of  allegiance  to  him.' 

The  emperor,  at  the  head  of  fifty  thousand  men, 
whom  the  coalition  had  not  yet  been  able  to  subdue, 
and  occupying  a  formidable  position  in  the  enemy's 
rear,  was  still  in  a  condition  to  resist.  He  might 
rejoin  the  armies  of  the  vice-king,  of  Augereau, 
and  of  Soult.  At  one  time,  he  determined  upon 
manoeuvring  around  Paris,  and,  at  another,  on 
marching  towards  the  Loire.  But  around  him 
reigned  a  silence  which  was  the  forerunner  of  de- 
sertions. Weariness  of  war,  or  treason,  had  al- 
ready detached  from  him  many  of  his  generals, — 
and  some  of  them  those  whom  he  had  laden  with 
honours  and  riches.  After  so  long  a  series  of  fa- 
tigues, they  panted  to  enjoy  the  rank  to  which  he 


NEGOTIATIONS.  155 

had  elevated  them.  Napoleon  guessed  their  secret 
thoughts,  and  resigned  himself  to  the  necessity  of 
abdicating ;  but  he  determined  to  dictate  the  con- 
ditions of  his  own  fall,  and  transfer  the  crown  to 
his  son.  He  sent,  as  plenipotentiaries,  to  the  allied 
sovereigns,  three  men,  whose  fidelity  no  proof  had 
shaken, — Ney,  Macdonald,  and  Caulaincourt,  duke 
of  Vicenza.  With  these,  he  joined  in  commission 
Marmont,  duke  of  Ragusa,  his  ancient  aid-de-camp, 
of  whom  he  had  said  :  — '  He  is  my  very  son,  — 
brought  up  beneath  my  own  tent,'  and  to  whom  he 
had  intrusted  the  advanced  post  of  Essone,  which 
covered  Fontainbleau : — and  yet,  Marmont  was,  at 
this  moment,  in  treaty  with  Schwartzenberg,  under 
pretext  that  the  army  was,  by  the  decree  of  the 
senate,  absolved  from  its  oath  of  fidelity  to  the 
emperor. 

The  defection  of  Ragusa  and  his  corps  dictated 
the  reply  of  Alexander  to  the  plenipotentiaries.  He 
demanded  the  unconditional  abdication  of  Napo- 
leon ;  and,  on  the  same  day,  the  provisional 
government  and  the  senate  called  to  the  throne 
Louis  Stanislaus  Xavier,  the  brother  of  Louis  XVI., 
and  published  a  new  constitution,  the  acceptance 
of  which  was  to  be  the  condition  of  that  prince's 
accession  to  the  crown. 

The  emperor,  betrayed  by  Marmont,  and  aban- 
doned by  many  of  his  old  companions  in  arms, 
meditated  laying  down  his  life,  and  escaping  by 
suicide  the  necessity  of  signing  his  own  abdication 


156  NAPOLEON    ABDICATES. 

and  that  of  his  descendants.  But  the  poison  ol 
which  he  made  use  for  this  purpose,  and  which  he 
carried  always  about  him  since  the  fatal  catastrophe 
of  Moscow,  had  lost  its  virtue  by  the  operation  of 
time.  A  long  stupor  succeeded  to  his  pangs,  and 
effaced  the  symptoms  of  approaching  death.  It  is 
said,  that,  on  awakening  from  his  state  of  insensi 
bility,  Napoleon,  astonished  to  find  himself  still  in 
life,  remained  for  some  moments  plunged  in  thought. 
4  God  wills  it  otherwise ! '  he  said,  and  abandoning 
himself  to  the  decision  of  Providence,  he  calmly 
submitted  to  his  new  destinies. 

From  that  moment,  he  offered  no  further  resist- 
ance; but  signed,  on  the  13th  of  April,  at  Fontain- 
bleau,  the  treaty  which  declared  him  and  his  de- 
scendants to  have  forfeited  the  throne  of  France. 
The  sacrifice  being  complete,  on  the  20th  of  April, 
Napoleon  took  leave  of  his  brave  army.  His  guard 
awaited  him  under  arms,  and  ranged  in  battle  order, 
in  the  court-yard  of  the  palace.  The  emperor  tra- 
versed his  apartments,  and  found,  in  his  passage, 
the  duke  of  Bassano,  generals  Belliard  and  Fouler, 
his  secretary,  baron  Fain,  and  a  few  superior  offi- 
cers —  the  last  and  sole  remains  of  a  court  which 
had,  once,  been  the  most  numerous  and  brilliant  in 
Europe.  He  held  out  his  hand  to  them,  rapidly 
descended  the  stairs,  and,  advancing  towards  his 
guard,  cast  an  agitated  look  upon  his  old  warriors, 
and  spoke  as  follows  : — '  Soldiers  of  my  old  guard, 
I  bid  you  farewell.     For  twenty  years  past,  I  have 


RETIRES    TO    ELBA.  157 

found  you.  ever,  on  the  path  of  glory  and  of  ho- 
nour. In  these-  latter  days,  as  in  those  of  our 
prosperity,  you  have  not,  for  a  moment,  ceased  to 
be  models  of  valour  and  of  fidelity.  With  men 
like  you,  our  cause  could  not  be  lost ;  but  the  war 
had  been,  already,  too  far  prolonged.  It  must  now, 
too,  have  been  a  civil  war ;  and  France  must  have 
suffered  more  than  she  has  already  done.  I  have 
therefore  sacrificed  your  interests  and  my  own,  to 
those  of  our  country,  —  and  I  am  about  to  depart. 
You,  my  friends,  will  continue  to  serve  France: 
whose  happiness  has  been  my  only  aim,  and  will  be 
ever  the  object  of  my  prayers.  Lament  not  for  my 
fate.  If  I  have  consented  to  survive  you,  it  is  that 
I  may  still  contribute  to  your  glory :  I  am  about  to 
commit  to  writing  the  great  things  which  we  have 
achieved  together.  Farewell,  my  children  !  Fain 
would  I  press  you  all  to  my  heart, — let  me,  at  least, 
embrace  your  standard  ! '  At  these  words,  general 
Petit,  snatching  up  the  eagle,  advanced  with  it  to- 
wards the  emperor.  Napoleon  kissed  the  ensign, 
amid  the  loud  sobs  of  his  soldiers.  The  emperor, 
greatly  agitated,  recovered  himself  by  an  effort, 
and  resumed  with  a  firmer  voice ;  — 4  Yet  once 
again,  adieu,  my  old  companions  in  arms  !  Let  this 
last  embrace  pass  into  your  hearts  !'  Then  throw- 
ing himself  into  his  carriage,  he  departed  for  the 
island  of  Elba ;  which  had  been  assigned  to  him. 
in  full  sovereignty,  by  the  treaty  of  Fontainbleau, 
and  whither  the  generals,  Bertrand,  Drouet,  and 


158  RETROSPECTIVE    VIEW. 

Canibronne,  with  four  hundred  soldiers  of  the  guard 
had  obtained  permission  to  follow-his  fortunes. 

Thus  fell,  the  first  time,  that  colossus  of  power 
which  had  governed  France  for  fourteen  years,  and 
seen,  for  a  time,  the  entire  continent  subject  to  its 
will.  It  was  never  the  destiny  of  any  man  to 
attain  to  fortunes  more  brilliant ;  and  never  did 
any  one  more  powerfully  agitate  the  whole  of  Eu- 
rope. A  great  statesman  and  a  great  captain,  he 
re-established  order  in  France,  and  made  her  glo- 
rious in  the  eyes  of  foreign  nations  by  his  marvel- 
lous victories.  He  was  gifted  with  prodigious 
strength  of  resolution,  combined  with  an  apprehen- 
sion of  great  things ;  and,  like  Louis  XIV.,  so  long 
as  he  sought  the  inspirations  of  his  genius  in  the 
wants  and  wishes  of  the  nation,  they  produced 
results  propitious  and  lasting.  His  civil  code — the 
re-organization  of  the  judicial  powers  and  of  the 
council  of  state  —  the  system  of  administrative 
centralization,  which,  by  impressing  on  France  a 
great  character  of  strength  and  unity,  placed  her 
in  a  condition  to  support,  unbroken,  the  most  fear- 
ful shocks — many  useful  constructions,  such  as  the 
admirable  road  over  the  Simplon,  the  canal  of 
Saint-Quentin,  the  works  at  Cherbourg,  the  ports 
which  he  caused  to  be  formed,  and  the  magnificent 
monuments  with  which  he  enriched  the  capital  and 
many  other  towns — and  his  decrees  for  the  exposi- 
tion of  the  products  of  labour  and  ingenuity — are 
sufficient   to   immortalize   his   reign.      Studiously 


AMBITION    OF    NAPOLEON.  159 

careful  of  all  which  might  contribute  to  the  splen- 
dour of  France  and  add  to  his  own  glory,  he  occu- 
pied himself  with  the  interests  of  commerce,  manu- 
factures, letters,  and  arts,  in  the  intervals  between 
his  battles.  But  that  all-grasping  activity  of  mind 
had,  unhappily,  its  source  in  a  measureless  ambi- 
tion ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that,  on  every 
occasion  on  which  the  conceptions  of  his  despotic 
egotism  departed  from  the  path  avowed  by  morality, 
or  pointed  out  by  the  true  interests  of  France,  they 
became  fatal  to  himself,  contributing  to  his  future 
reverses.  The  execution  of  the  duke  d'Enghien 
raised  a  cry  of  indignation  against  him,  —  re- 
strained, at  the  moment,  by  fear,  but  destined  to 
find  terrible  echoes  in  the  day  of  his  disasters. 
His  treacherous  usurpation  of  the  Spanish  crown 
opened  that  country  to  the  English,  and  devoured 
the  flower  of  his  soldiers.  His  oppressive  system 
of  blockade  condemned  him  to  the  fatal  necessity 
of  being  always  victorious.  And,  finally,  the  entire 
destruction  of  the  liberty  of  the  press  separated 
him  from  the  fellowship  of  public  opinion,  and  con- 
tributed powerfully  to  deceive  him  as  to  the  re- 
sources which  the  nation  was  likely  to  offer  him, 
in  the  hour  of  adversity.  At  the  point  to  which 
our  history  has  now  brought  us,  Napoleon  is  fallen  ; 
but  his  terrible  part  is  not,  yet,  finished.  The  giant 
is,  once  more,  to  lift  up  his  head  ;  and  in  his  second 
fall  he  is,  a  second  time,  to  shake  the  world. 


160 


THE    RESTORED    DYNASTY, 


CHAPTER   XVIL 


THE    RESTORATION    OF    LOUIS    EIGHTEENTH. 
HUNDRED    DAYS. 


THE 


HE  gravest  evil  which  usually  attaches 
to  a  political  restoration,  accomplished 
after  a  considerable  lapse  of  time,  arises 
from  the  fact  that  those  in  favour  of 
whom  that  restoration  is  effected,  have, 
for  the  most  part,  become  strangers  to 
the  new  feelings  and  manners  of  the  nation  which 
they  are  thereby  called  upon  to  govern.  Their 
affections  and  prejudices  are  all  with  the  men  and 
things  of  a  period  past  away,  but  whose  memory 
is  linked,  in  their  minds,  with  the  recollections  of 
their  own  greatness  and  prosperity ;  and  it  is 
scarcely  to  be  expected  that  they  should  look  other- 
wise than  with  distrust  and  aversion  on  all  things 
which  have  arisen  out  of  those  opinions  to  which 
they  attribute  their  own  humiliation  and  long  mis- 
fortunes. The  new  generation,  whose  interests  are 
linked  with  the  existing  order  of  things,  is  but  too 
well  prepared  to  hold  them  guilty,  by  anticipation, 


LOUIS    EIGHTEENTH.  161 

of  those  prejudices  and  sentiments  so  natural  to 
their  position ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  the  party 
whose  hopes  are  attached  to  the  re-establishment 
of  an  overthrown  system,  triumph  in  the  belief  that 
there  is  a  necessary  conformity  between  their  own 
wishes  and  those  of  the  princes  over  whose  return 
they  rejoice.  Thence,  on  the  one  side,  foolish 
hopes,  imprudent  menaces,  and  rash  projects,  are 
met,  on  the  other,  by  gloomy  apprehensions,  na- 
tural repugnances,  spreading  disaffection,  and  dan- 
gerous plots.  When  to  this  fermentation  of  civil 
disturbances  are  added,  in  the  popular  mind,  those 
humiliating  recollections  inseparable  from  a  forcible 
restoration, — when  that  restoration  is  introduced 
by  great  national  calamities  as  its  heralds,  and  ac- 
companied by  foreign  bayonets  as  its  supporters — 
it  may  be  safely  predicated,  ere  a  single  word  has 
been  pronounced,  or  a  single  fault  committed,  that 
great  resistance  is  to  be  apprehended,  and  great 
danger  inevitable.  Such  were  the  unpropitious 
circumstances  which  accompanied  the  restoration 
of  the  Bourbons,  in  1814;  and  ere  yet  a  single 
member  of  that  family  had  set  foot  on  the  soil  of 
France,  it  was  easy  to  estimate  the  obstacles  which 
they  would  have  to  encounter,  and  to  foresee  the 
storms  ready  to  burst  forth  around  their  path. 

Louis  Stanislaus  Xavier,  the  head  of  the  royal 
house,  whom  the  senate  summoned  to  the  throne, 
under  the  title  of  Louis  XVIII.,  was  a  prince  of 
judgment,  with  a  mind  capable  of  appreciating  the 

L 


162  THE    ROYAL    FAMILY. 

character  of  the  times.  In  his  youth,  he  had 
acquired,  as  comte  de  Provence,  a  certain  degree 
of  popularity,  by  declaring  himself,  in  the  second 
assembly  of  notables,  in  favour  of  the  double  re- 
presentation of  the  tiers  etat.  Subsequently,  during 
the  emigration,  he  fought  against  the  republic,  and 
protested  against  the  sovereignty  of  Napoleon, 
asserting  his  own  right  to  the  crown.  Driven  from 
the  continent,  he  sought  an  honourable  asylum  in 
England,  where  he  had  long  lived  in  retirement,  at 
Hartwell,  surrounded  by  a  few  friends,  when  the 
reverses  of  the  French  arms  opened  up  his  way  to 
the  throne.  The  members  of  his  family,  Monsieur, 
the  comte  d'Artois,  his  brother,  the  dukes  of  An- 
goultme  and  Berry,  the  sons  of  Monsieur,  and 
finally  the  two  princes  of  the  house  of  Conde  who 
survived  the  unfortunate  duke  d'Enghien,  were 
known  to  Europe  only  by  their  fruitless  efforts  to 
triumph  over  the  revolution  by  the  aids  of  civil  war 
and  foreign  armies.  Of  all  the  princes  of  the  house 
of  Bourbon,  the  duke  of  Orleans  alone,  the  first 
prince  of  the  blood,  had  borne  the  national  colours, 
and  fought  against  the  enemies  of  France.  Amongst 
the  other  members  of  the  royal  family,  the  most 
distinguished  was  the  illustrious  daughter  of  Louis 
XVJ.  and  Marie-Antoinette,  wife  of  the  due  d'An 
gouleme, — a  princess  worthy,  alike  from  her  mis- 
fortunes and  her  own  greatness  of  mind,  to  excite 
a  profound  and  universal  interest,  but  who  had  too 
much  to  fojget,  and  too  many  things  to  forgive,  for 


LOUIS    IN    FRANCE.  163 

France  to  benold  her  return  to  the  soil  of  her  early 
sufferings  without  apprehension. 

Monsieur,  the  cornte  d'Artois,  preceded  his  bro- 
ther ;  and  made  his  entry  into  Paris,  as  lieutenant- 
general  of  the  kingdom,  on  the  12th  of  April,  1814. 
A  very  happy  and  graceful  remark  of  his  gave  a 
first  impression  greatly  in  his  favour.  '  Nothing,' 
said  he,  in  his  proclamation  to  the  Parisians,  4  is 
changed  in  France,  by  my  coming,  save  that  there 
is  one  Frenchmen  more.'  Yet  he,  himself,  gave 
the  first  signal  of  a  political  reaction,  by  substitut- 
ing the  white  flag  and  cockade,  long  since  forgotten, 
for  the  glorious  colours  which  were  associated  with 
the  memory  of  so  many  triumphs  for  France. 

Louis  XVIII.  speedily  followed  his  brother,  and 
was  received  at  Calais  by  general  Maison.  Yield- 
ing to  the  counsels  of  those  about  him,  he  refused, 
through  a  sentiment  of  mistaken  pride,  to  accept 
the  constitution  tendered  by  the  senate,  accusing 
that  body  of  encroaching  upon  his  hereditary  rights. 
Enlightened  however,  by  the  earnest  representations 
of  the  emperor  Alexander,  and  of  M.  de  Talleyrand, 
a  statesman  skilled,  above  all  others,  in  anticipating 
at  all  times  the  wants  and  wishes  of  France,  he 
caused  his  entry  into  the  capital  to  be  preceded  by 
a  celebrated  declaration,  dated  at  Saint-Ouen,  which 
guarantied  to  the  French  the  enjoyment  of  the 
liberties  promised  by  the  senatorial  constitution, 
and  maintained  a  large  proportion  of  its  clauses. 
On  the  following  day,  the  3d  of  May, v  took  place 


J  64  APPOINTMENTS. 

the  solemn  entry  of  the  king  and  madame  la  duch- 
esse  d'Angouleme  into  Paris.  No  foreign  soldier 
appeared  in  the  royal  cortege ;  the  monarch  was 
escorted  by  the  old  guard  ;  and  a  great  portion  of 
the  public  interest  was  attracted  to  these  brave 
warriors,  whose  air  of  gloom  and  sadness  contrasted 
with  the  enthusiasm  of  the  partisans  of  the  house 
of  Bourbon.  The  cry  of  Vive  le  roi !  was  more 
than  once  drowned  in  that  of  Vive  la  garde !  and 
many  of  the  spectators  carried  away  from  that 
solemnity  dark  and  painful  forebodings.  These 
alarms  were  augmented  by  the  formation  of  the 
ministry,  which  included  several  members  wholly 
strangers  to  the  spirit  of  the  revolution,  and  re- 
commended to  the  monarch's  choice  by  services 
anterior  to  1789,  or  by  his  own  personal  attach- 
ment. Of  this  number  were  M.  Dambray,  chan- 
cellor of  France,  and  keeper  of  the  seals  —  M. 
l'abbe  de  Montesquieu,  minister  of  the  interior  — 
and  M.  le  comte  de  Blacas,  minister  of  the  royal 
household.  General  Dupont,  unfortunately  cele- 
brated for  the  capitulation  of  Baylen,  had  the  war 
portfolio  ;  M.  de  Talleyrand  was  minister  for  foreign 
.affairs ;  M.  Malouet  had  the  navy  department,  the 
baron  Louis  that  of  finance,  and  M.  Beugnot  the 
direction  of  the  police  of  the  kingdom.  Active 
negotiations  for  peace  were  set  on  foot.  The  glo- 
rious but  undecisive  battle  fought  by  marshal  Soult, 
with  a  very  inferior  force,  against  the  duke  of  Wel- 
lington, beneath  the  walls  of  Toulouse,  operated  no 


THE    CONSTITUTION.  165 

change  in  the  general  condition  of  affairs  ;  and,  on 
the  30th  of  May,  a  definitive  peace  was  concluded 
between  France  and  the  allied  powers  by  the  treaty 
of  Paris.  France  returned  within  her  ancient  limits, 
retaining  Avignon,  the  Venaissin  county,  Mulhau- 
sen,  and  a  small  portion  of  Savoy, — and  restoring 
to  the  allies  fifty-three  fortresses  still  in  the  occupa- 
tion of  her  troops,  with  all  the  war  material  which 
they  contained.  England  seized  upon  three  of  the 
French  colonies,  the  isle  of  France,  Saint  Lucie, 
and  Tobago  ;  whilst  France  retained  possession  of 
the  island  of  Bourbon,  Guiana,  Pondicherry,  Guada- 
loupe,  and  Martinique.  Shortly  after  the  signing 
of  this  treaty,  the  French  territory  was  freed  from 
foreign  troops. 

The  king  convoked,  for  the  4th  of  June,  the  sena- 
tors and  the  legislative  body,  which  had  been  vio- 
lently dissolved  by  Napoleon;  and,  on  the  same 
day,  in  their  presence,  made  a  solemn  gift  to  the 
French  of  a  constitutional  charter,  the  principal 
provisions  of  which  were  a  repetition  of  those  con- 
tained in  the  act  of  the  senate  and  the  declaration 
of  Saint-Ouen.  It  established  a  representative 
government,  composed  of  the  king  and  two  cham- 
bers— the  one  of  peers,  named  for  life,  by  the  king 
— and  the  other  of  deputies  from  the  departments. 
It  guarantied  individual  liberty,  the  freedom  of  the 
press,  and  that  of  religious  worship,  the  inviolability 
of  property,  the  irrevocability  of  the  sales  of  tne 
national  estates,  the  responsibility  of  ministers,  the 


166  ERROR    OF    LOUIS. 

aniiMctl  vote  of  contributions,  and  the  independence 
of  the  tribunals.  It  recognised  the  public  debt, 
restored  the  ancient  nobility,  and  acknowledged 
and  retained  the  new.  This  charter  was  to  be 
sworn  to  by  the  kings  of  France,  at  their  corona- 
tion ;  and  was  generally  well  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  the  nation,  and  the  wishes  expressed  for  the  last 
twenty-five  years,  by  the  most  distinguished  men 
of  France.  Immediately  after  its  reading,  the 
chancellor  communicated  the  ordinance  which  con- 
stituted the  chamber  of  peers,  composed  principally 
of  the  old  senators,  the  marshals,  and  a  great  num- 
ber of  dignitaries  of  the  ancient  court  and  the  no- 
bility. 

But  the  promulgation  of  the  constitutional  act 
was  accompanied  by  one  grave  fault.  The  king 
had  refused  to  accept  it  as  the  condition  of  his  ele- 
vation to  the  throne,  and  chose  to  confer  it  as  the 
simple  act  of  his  sovereign  will,  at  the  same  time 
that  he  made  the  preamble  bear  date  the  nineteenth 
year  of  his  reign.  This  was,  in  fact,  to  refuse  to 
take  any  reckoning  of  all  that  had  passed  in  France, 
during  the  last  twenty-five  years ;  it  was  erecting 
the  royal  will,  in  virtue  of  a  pretended  divine  righc 
unintelligible  to  the  great  majority  of  the  French 
over  the  will  of  the  entire  nation ;  in  a  word,  it 
was  putting  the  charter  in  danger,  and  surrendering 
it,  by  anticipation,  to  the  caprices  of  a  suspicious 
and  undefined  power.  In  fact,  if  the  prince,  him- 
self, who  was  the  author  of  this  constitution,  recog- 


MURMURS    AGAINST    LOUIS.  167 

nised  in  it  no  more  than  an  act  emanating  from  his 
sole  authority,  it  was  to  be  feared  that  a  king  less 
judicious  or  enlightened  than  he,  might,  one  day, 
hold  himself  at  liberty  to  alter  or  revoke  it,  in  virtue 
of  the.  same  hereditary  and  inalienable  right.  The 
first  consequences  of  this  capital  error  were  to 
exaggerate  the  premature  apprehensions  of  some, 
and  inflame  the  audacious  hopes  of  others ;  and  to 
this  great  fault  may  be  imputed  a  large  proportion 
of  the  misfortunes  of  the  restoration. 

The  dangers  of  the  ground  which  the  monarch 
had  taken  up  as  the  foundation  of  his  power  soon 
became  manifest.  All  those  who  had  looked  upon 
the  return  of  the  Bourbons  with  discontent,  now 
perceived  that  the  latter,  in  maintaining,  against 
their  will,  the  state  of  things  produced  by  the  revo- 
lution, by  no  means  regarded  that  event  as  an  irre- 
vocable fact.  These  were  loud  in  the  expression 
of  their  suspicion  and  alarm ;  and  the  press,  violent 
and  implacable,  gave  loud  echoes  to  their  menaces 
and  apprehensions.  The  government  lost  no  time 
in  fettering  its  action  ;  and  the  censorship  was  re- 
established, by  a  perversion  of  the  true  sense  of  one 
of  the  articles  of  the  constitution.  The  partisans 
of  the  old  regime  continued,  nevertheless,  to  indulge 
themselves  in  fanatical  declamations ;  and,  as  al- 
ways happens  when  the  liberty  of  the  press  is  sus- 
pended, the  people  attributed  to  the  government  the 
instigation  of  those  excesses  which  it  failed  to  re- 
press.   Imprudent  words  too  often  fell  from  the  lips 


168  INCREASING    DISCONTENT. 

of  the  ministers  and  servants  of  the  government , 
ind  those  who  arrogated  to  themselves  exclusively 
the  name  of  royalists,  indulged  in  bitter  invectives, 
not  only  against  the  charter,  and  the  guarantees 
which  it  offered,  but  even  against  its  royal  author, 
himself.  Ordinances  were  issued,  some  offensive  to 
the  army  and  nation,  and  others  vexatious  and  irri- 
tating in  their  character.  Expiatory  solemnities 
were  appointed,  in  honour  of  the  royal  victims  of 
the  revolutionary  tempest ;  and,  in  the  language 
of  the  official  proclamations,  as  w7ell  as  in  that  of 
the  pulpit,  France  was  continually  accused  of  all 
the  atrocities  committed  during  the  reign  of  terror. 
The  clergy  essayed  their  power,  by  issuing  an  ordi- 
nance which  interdicted  all  public  amusements  on 
the  Sundays  and  sacred  days  of  the  church.  Al- 
ready they  spoke  of  recovering  their  tithes  and 
their  domains,  and  denounced  the  purchasers  of  the 
national  property  ;  and,  finally,  the  greater  number 
of  the  bishops  adhered  openly,  and  with  all  their 
hearts,  to  the  bull  of  Pope  Pius  VII.,  which  re- 
established the  order  of  the  Jesuits,  so  unpopular 
throughout  the  kingdom.  The  army,  consigned  to 
obscure  garrisons,  grieved  over  their  lost  eagles, 
which  the  fleurs-de-lis  had  supplanted,  and  hid,  with 
many  sighs,  the  colours  which  they  had  made  so 
glorious,  beneath  the  white  cockade.  They  had 
seen  a  number  of  officers,  who  had  grown  grey  in 
their  ranks,  dismissed  by  general  Dupont,  and  after- 
wards by  marshal  Soult,  (compelled,  as  they  were, 


DIFFERENT    PARTIES.  169 

to  yield  to  the  exigencies  of  the  court,)  and  replaced 
by  men  whose  birth,  or  services  in  foreign  armies, 
formed  their  sole  title  to  the  honours  of  military 
command.  These  new-comers,  full  of  recollections 
of  the  old  monarchy,  spoke  of  the  white  plume  of 
Henry  IV.,  and  the  christian  virtues  of  Saint-Louis, 
to  men  who  had  followed  Napoleon  into  all  the 
capitals  of  Europe,  but  who,  for  the  most  part, 
were  ignorant  of  the  very  names  of  Saint-Louis 
and  Henry  IV.  Irritation  and  uneasiness  agitated 
all  those  classes  whose  interests  were  intimately 
connected  with  those  of  the  revolution;  and  several 
distinct  parties  were  formed,  almost  equally  hostile 
to  the  system  adopted  by  the  government.  Queen 
Hortense,  the  daughter  of  the  empress  Josephine, 
and  wife  of  Louis  Bonaparte,  was  the  centre  and 
soul  of  the  imperialist  party,  in  Paris.  Fouche, 
Gregoire,  and  the  ex-directors  Barras  and  Carnot, 
were  at  the  head  of  the  patriot  faction,  whose 
dreams  were  of  a  republic,  and  who  of  course  desired 
to  overthrow  the  monarchy.  In  the  foremost  ranks 
of  the  constitutionalists,  were  La  Fayette,  Benjamin 
Constant,  Lanjuinais,  Boissy  d'Anglas,  and  De 
Broglie.  And  finally,  the  party  most  dangerous 
of  all  by  its  power,  that  which  was  designated 
under  the  title  of  ultra-royalist,  had  for  its  chief 
Monsieur,  the  king's  brother.  The  comtes  de  Bla- 
cas  and  de  Vaublanc  were  its  most  active  members ; 
and,  as  well  as  Monsieur,  were  incessant  in  their 
efforts  to  urge  Louis  XVIII.  to  unpopular  acts,  in 


170  DIFFICULTIES    OF    THE    GOVERNMENT. 

opposition,  at  once  to  the  spirit  of  the  charter,  and 
to  the  persona]  inclinations  of  the  monarch. 

An  active  correspondence  was,  at  the  same  time, 
carrying  on  between  Paris  and  the  island  of  Elba ; 
where  Napoleon,  with  his  eye  upon  France,  rejoiced 
over  all  the  faults  of  power  and  all  the  symptoms 
of  popular  irritation.  Acquainted  with  the  intrigues 
of  the  imperialists,  and  apprehending  a  fatal  termi- 
nation to  the  patriot  cause,  Barras  and  Fouche,  two 
of  the  chiefs  of  that  party,  attempted  to  enlighten 
the  government  on  its  dangers,  and  to  impress  upon 
its  proceedings  a  more  judicious  direction.  Un- 
known to  one  another,  they  each  demanded  an 
audience  of  the  king.  M.  de  Blacas,  at  that  time 
all-powerful  with  Louis  XVIII.,  reminded  the  king 
of  their  regicide  vote,  as  an  obstacle  to  the  granting 
of  an  interview  with  the  monarch,  and  was,  himself, 
commissioned  to  receive  them.  His  prejudiced 
mind  either  could  not,  or  would  not,  understand 
them ;  and  Fouch6  said,  on  quitting  him  :  — '  Let 
the  king  only  continue  to  employ  the  services  of 
that  man,  and  he  would  lose  a  dozen  crowns,  one 
after  the  other.' 

In  the  face  of  so  many  causes  of  agitation  and 
revolt,  the  task  of  the  government  was  one  of  im- 
mense difficulty ;  and  it  acted  without  union,  with- 
out intelligence,  and  without  vigour.  M.  de  Tal- 
leyrand had  no  longer  a  seat  in  the  council, — being, 
at  that  time,  absent,  as  the  representative  of  France 
at  the  congress  of  sovereigns  assembled,  for  some 


CONGRESS    OF    VIENNA.  171 

months  past,  at  Vienna,  for  the  purpose  of  dividing 
the  spoils  of  the  vast  empire  of  Napoleon.  This 
congress,  directed  principally  by  the  emperor  Alex- 
ander, but  in  which  prince  Metternich  for  Austria, 
lord  Castlereagh  for  England,  and  count  Harden- 
berg  for  Prussia,  exercised  a  very  high  influence, 
had  already  excited  prodigious  discontent.  The 
monarchs  had  there  assumed  as  a  principle  the 
right  of  sharing  nations  amongst  them,  like  so 
many  sheep.  It  was  not,  now,  territorial  extent, 
but  the  number  of  souls  in  each  city  and  each  coun- 
try, which  was  taken  as  the  basis  of  these  partitions. 
No  account  whatever  was  made  of  the  distinctions 
established  between  one  people  and  another,  by 
manners,  national  character,  the  demands  of  com- 
merce, or  religions  ;  but  the  interests  of  states  of 
the  second  order  were,  in  all  cases,  sacrificed  to 
those  of  the  great  powers.  The  unfortunate  king 
of  Saxony,  guilty  of  being  faithful  to  Napoleon,  was 
despoiled,  for  the  benefit  of  Prussia  and  Russia ; 
the  first  of  which  obtained,  besides  the  electorate 
of  Saxony,  Swedish  Pomerania,  and  a  great  portion 
of  the  territory  between  the  Rhine  and  the  Meuse, 
— whilst  Russia  acquired  the  grand-duchy  of  War- 
saw, under  the  name  of  the  kingdom  of  Poland, 
and  on  the  condition  of  ruling  it  by  a  special  and 
constitutional  government.  Austria  recovered  Lom- 
bardy,  and  added  thereto  all  the  ancient  possessions 
of  Venice  on  both  shores  of  the  Adriatic.  Tuscany 
was  given  to  the  archduke  Ferdinand,  Genoa  to  the 


172  DELIBERATIONS    AT    VIENNA. 

king  of  Sardinia,  and  Parma  and  Placentia  to  the 
ex-empress  Maria-Louisa.  The  foreign  policy  of 
all  the  German  states  was  submitted  to  the  decision 
of  a  federal  diet ;  in  which  Austria  and  Prussia 
contrived  to  secure  the  entire  influence,  notwith- 
standing the  strong  remonstrances  of  the  kings  of 
Bavaria  and  Wirtemberg,  and  the  sovereigns  of  the 
secondary  states.  Sweden  acquired  Norway,  at 
the  expense  of  Denmark,  —  from  whom  England 
took  awTay,  in  addition,  Heligoland.  The  latter 
power,  enriched  by  the  colonies  won  during  the 
war,  and  by  her  new  conquests  in  India,  retained, 
besides,  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  the  Isle  of  France, 
Malta,  and  the  Ionian  Islands ;  and  devoted  her 
anxious  care  to  the  formation  of  the  kingdom  of  the 
Netherlands,  composed  of  Holland  and  Belgium 
united  under  the  house  of  Orange, —  and  which 
appeared  to  that  power  to  present  a  formidable 
barrier  against  France.  The  latter  country  having 
had  its  limits  determined  by  the  treaty  of  Paris,  M. 
de  Talleyrand  had  but  an  unimportant  share  in  the 
operations  of  the  congress.  He  confined  himself 
principally  to  resisting  the  encroachments  of  Russia, 
and  demanding  the  throne  of  Naples,  filled  by  Mu- 
rat,  for  the  Sicilian  Bourbons.  His  endeavours 
were,  at  first,  unattended  by  anything  like  success ; 
but  alarmed,  at  length,  for  the  maintenance  of  his 
rights,  Murat  once  more  entered  into  communication 
with  the  great  man  whom  he  had  abandoned,  invited 
him  into  Italy,  and  promised  him  vigorous  aid.  Si  ,*h 


NAPOLEON  RETURNS  TO  FRANCE.       173 

was  the  general  situation  of  Europe,  at  the  begin- 
ning of  March,  1815, — when  an  extraordinary  event 
suddenly  drew  the  eyes  of  all  men,  once  more,  to- 
wards France. 

On  the  27th  of  February,  a  brig  of  war,  followed 
by  six  light  barks,  stole  cautiously  over  the  Mediter- 
ranean. A  profound  stillness  reigned  on  board, 
and  the  glitter  of  arms  flashed  from  every  side. 
Foui  hundred  soldiers,  with  weather-beaten  faces, 
covered  with  scars,  and  of  martial  aspect,  manned 
the  brig;  but,  anxious  and  watchful,  their  eager 
eyes  questioned  every  sail  that  appeared  on  the 
horizon.  Suddenly,  the  brows  of  more  than  one 
of  these  heroes  grew  pale,  as  a  ship  of  war  hove  in 
sight ;  and  already  the  word  '  Elba,'  and  murmurs 
of  return,  passed,  in  whispers,  from  mouth  to  mouth. 
But  in  the  midst  of  these,  stood  one  man,  apparently 
unmoved,  towards  whom  all  eyes  were  turned,  and 
who  rejected  all  suggestions  of  delay  to  the  execu- 
tion of  his  vast  enterprise.  He  pointed  towards 
France,  and  shouted — '  Forward !'  That  man  was 
Napoleon,  who  had,  once  more,  committed  himself 
to  his  fortunes.  Then,  as  on  his  return  from  Egypt, 
but,  this  time,  for  his  own  misfortune  and  that  of 
France,  he  escaped  the  enemy's  cruisers ;  and,  on 
the  1st  of  March,  disembarked  on  the  beach  of 
Cannes,  near  Antibes,  with  a  thousand  soldiers,  and 
his  three  gallant  generals,  Bertrand,  Drouet,  and 
Cambronne. 

This   daring   enterprise  was   characterised,   by 


174  PROGRESS    OF    NAPOLEON. 

those  about  Louis  XVIII.,  as  an  act  of  utter  mad 
ncs?.  The  crowd  of  his  courtiers  were  delighted 
looking  upon  it  as  a  mere  abortive  conspiracy, — a 
most  fortunate  event,  the  only  effect  of  which  would 
be  to  expose  the  secret  designs  of  those  whose 
places  they  coveted.  It  was  proposed  to  organize 
a  dictatorship,  to  raise  the  nation  in  mass,  and  to 
put  an  end  to  Bonaparte  and  the  conspirators  at 
once.  The  king  convoked  the  two  chambers ;  the 
comte  d'Artois  was  commissioned  to  take  charge 
of  the  military  forces  at  Lyons,  in  conjunction  with 
marshal  Macdonald ;  Ney  accepted  the  command 
of  the  troops  scattered  throughout  Tranche  Comte, 
and  took  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  king;  the  due 
de  Feltre  replaced  Soult  as  minister  at  war ;  and, 
finally,  by  a  royal  ordinance,  Napoleon  Bonaparte 
was  declared  a  rebel  and  a  traitor,  and  all  French- 
men were  enjoined  to  seize  upon  him  as  such. 

Napoleon,  however,  continued  to  advance,  by 
forced  marches,  amongst  a  people  subdued  by  the 
magic  charm  of  his  name,  of  the  tricoloured  flag 
which  he  bore,  and  of  his  eloquent  proclamations. 
To  the  people,  who  crowded  round  him,  he  said — 
1  Citizens,  called  to  the  throne  by  your  choice,  all 
which  has  been  done  without  your  assent  is  illegal. 
But  your  wishes  shall  be  heard,  and  the  national 
cause  shall,  yet,  be  triumphant.  My  return  secures 
to  you,  once  more,  all  the  privileges  which  you 
have  enjoyed  for  the  last  five  and  twenty  years.' 
To  the  army  he  said  : — ;  Soldiers,  your  voice  has 


HIS    RECEPTION    BY    THE    ARMY.  175 

reached  me  in  my  exile,  and  I  have  come  to  you, 
through  every  obstacle  and  every  danger.  Fling 
down  the  colours  which  the  nation  has  proscribed, 
and  around  which  have  rallied  all  the  enemies  of 
France.  Up,  once  more,  with  the  tricoloured  cock- 
ade, which  you  wore  in  all  our  great  battles.  The 
veterans  of  the  armies  of  the  Sambre  and  Meuse, 
of  the  Rhine,  of  Italy,  of  Egypt,  and  of  the  west, 
are  humiliated  ;  their  honourable  scars  are  sullied  ! 
Soldiers,  place  yourselves  beneath  the  banners  of 
your  chief!  victory  shall  march  by  your  side,  and 
the  eagle  shall  fly,  with  the  colours  of  the  nation, 
from  steeple  to  steeple,  until  it  nestle  upon  the 
towers  of  Notre-Dame !' 

The  sole  hope  of  Napoleon  reposed  on  the  affec- 
tion and  enthusiasm  of  the  soldiery  for  his  person : 
on  their  return  to  his  standard  depended  the  success 
of  his  vast  enterprise.  A  first  attempt,  made  on 
the  garrison  of  Antibes,  had  failed;  and,  during 
several  days,  Bonaparte  marched  without  meeting 
any  forces,  either  friendly  or  hostile.  At  length, 
on  the  evening  of  the  7th  of  March,  a  battalion  of 
seven  hundred  men  presented  themselves,  at  the 
defile  of  Vizille,  near  Grenoble,  the  road  to  which 
they  cut  off.  The  officer  in  command  refused  to 
parley,  and  threatened  to  fire  on  Napoleon's  party. 
This  was  the  decisive  moment.  Napoleon  advanced, 
alone,  and  on  foot,  and  approaching  within  hearing 
of  the  troops,  he  opened  his  riding-coat,  and  thus 
addressed  them: — 'Soldiers,  it  is  I !  look  upon  me! 


176 

If  there  be  a  man  amongst  you  who  would  slay  his 
emperor,  behold  him  here!  he  comes, with  uncovered 
breast,  to  offer  himself  to  your  weapons  !'  All  re- 
coiled ;  admiration  and  enthusiasm  took  possession 
of  their  hearts  ;  the  cry  of  Vive  Vempereur !  was  a 
Miousand  times  repeated  ;  the  two  parties  frater- 
nised, hoisted  the  same  standard,  and  marched  to- 
gether upon  Grenoble.  Shortly  afterwards,  colonel 
Labedoyere  appeared  with  his  regiment,  and  joined 
Bonaparte, — to  whom  that  unfortunate  young  man 
had  vowed  a  sort  of  worship.  Grenoble  and  Lyons 
opened  their  gates.  In  the  latter  city,  the  comte 
d'Artois  was  abandoned,  and  quitted  it,  with  a 
single  horseman  for  his  escort.  Everywhere,  the 
soldiers  responded  to  the  appeal  of  their  old  gene- 
ral ;  the  division  of  the  army  commanded  by  Ney 
yielded  to  the  example,  and  Ney  himself,  won  over 
by  the  sentiment  of  the  hour,  flung  himself  into  the 
arms  of  his  former  general — his  companion  in  arms. 
Then,  for  the  first  time,  did  Monsieur  take  the  oath 
to  the  constitutional  charter,  in  presence  of  the  as- 
sembled chambers.  In  vain,  however,  did  marshal 
Mortier  and  the  garrison  of  La  Fere  repress,  in  the 
east,  a  revolt  led  by  the  generals  Lallemand  and 
Lefevre-Desnouettes ;  in  vain  did  the  due  d'Angou- 
leme,  in  Languedoc,  and  Madame,  at  Bordeaux, — 
the  city  which  had  been  the  first  to  proclaim  the 
Bourbons, — endeavour  to  rally  the  troops  in  the 
royal  cause:  Napoleon  was,  already,  but  a  few 
marches  distant  from  the  Tuileries. 


NAPOLEON'S   RETURN    FROM   ELBA. 


NAPOLEON  ENTERS  PARIS.  177 

In  Pans,  the  troops  gave  no  response  to  the  cry 
of  Vive  le  roil  Louis  XVIII.  understood  their 
silence  but  too  well ;  and,  yielding  to  necessity,  he 
hastily  quitted  his  palace,  in  the  night  between  the 
19th  and  20th  of  March.  He  repaired  to  Lille, 
and  subsequently  to  Ghent;  where  he  was  speedily 
joined  by  M.  de  Talleyrand,  and  whither  he  was 
followed,  besides  his  faithful  servants,  by  all  those 
who  disguised  their  prudence  beneath  the  semblance 
of  devotion. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th  of  March,  Napoleon 
re-entered  the  capital,  without  having  fired  a  shot. 
His  rapid  march  had  been  one  continued  triumph  ; 
yet  never,  perhaps,  did  sovereign,  in  repossessing 
himself  of  a  crown,  find  himself  in  a  situation  more 
critical  than  did  Napoleon,  on  his  return  from  Elba, 
during  that  period  so  fatally  celebrated  as  the  hun- 
dred days.  France  was  exhausted,  and  divided 
into  factions.  The  immense  majority  of  enlightened 
Frenchmen,  satisfied  with  the  promises  of  the  char- 
ter granted  by  Louis  XVIIL,  which  they  hoped  to 
see  religiously  fulfilled,  looked  back  with  terror  on 
the  imperial  despotism.  The  south  was  menaced 
with  civil  war ;  La  Vendee  was  once  more  in  a 
state  of  fermentation  ;  the  Roche-Jacquelins,  the 
Sapineauds,  and  the  D'Autichamps,  were  agitating 
the  Bocage;  the  working  classes  at  Paris,  Lyons,  and 
other  towns,  were  in  a  state  of  disturbance,  which 
recalled  the  most  gloomy  periods  of  the  revolution  ; 
the  whole  of  Europe  was,   again,  in  arms  ;  and 

M 


178         DIFFICULTIES    OF    NAPOLEON'S    POSITION. 

Murat  was  unsuccessful  in  his  attempt  to  restore 
freedom  to  Italy.  The  congress  of  Vienna  de- 
clared Napoleon  to  be  without  the  social  pale  j  and 
a  million  of  soldiers  were  about,  once  more,  to  be 
poured  into  France.  Under  these  circumstances, 
it  became  essential,  at  whatever  cost,  that,  in  this 
gigantic  struggle,  victory  should  give  to  the  diadem- 
ed forehead  of  Napoleon  a  new  baptism  of  human 
blood. 

It  was  the  army  almost  alone  that  had  recalled 
its  emperor, — his  return  being  in  fact  the  work  of 
the  soldiers  far  more  than  of  the  people.  So  cir- 
cumstanced, an  almost  unlimited  authority  was 
necessary  to  the  chief;  but,  constrained  to  turn  for 
support  to  those  quarters  where  strength  resided 
Napoleon  sought  it  amongst  the  patriot  party, — 
and  that  party,  which  nourished  republican  senti- 
ments, could  not  bring  itself  to  intrust  to  the  author 
of  the  19thBrumaire,  a  dictatorship  even  momentary. 
It  became  necessary  for  Bonaparte  to  flatter  its 
chiefs,  and  hold  the  language  of  one  who  was  a 
friend  to  the  national  liberties ;  and  such  language, 
in  his  mouth,  was  but  a  feeble  instrument  of  success. 
For  public  opinion,  when  it  has  the  upper  hand,  is 
only  to  be  won  over  by  the  language  of  truth, — or 
by  language  which,  if  not  sincere,  at  least  wears  the 
appearance  of  sincerity. 

The  first  imperial  decrees,  dated  from  Lyons, 
were  energetic.  They  pronounced  the  dissolution 
of  the  chambers  of  Louis  XVIIL, — and  convened 


NEW    CONSTITUTION.  179 

the  electoral  colleges  to  an  extraordinary  assembly, 
in  the  Champ  de  Mai,  for  the  purpose  of  modifying 
the  constitution  of  the  empire,  in  the  popular  inte- 
rest. The  ancient  nobility  was  abolished, — a  se- 
questration ordered  of  all  the  property  of  the  Bour- 
bons,— and  eleven  heads  were  placed  under  pro- 
scription, including  those  of  Talleyrand  and  Mar- 
mont.  Yielding  to  the  forced  alliance  which  neces- 
sity  imposed  on  him,  the  emperor  admitted  the 
patriot  chiefs,  Carnot  and  Fouche,  into  his  council 
— the  first  as  minister  of  the  interior,  the  second  as 
minister  of  police.  He  endeavoured,  too,  to  gain 
over  the  constitutionalists ;  and  Benjamin  Constant 
had  the  greatest  share  in  the  drawing  up  of  the  act 
of  addition  to  the  constitution  of  the  empire.  This 
act  adopted  the  leading  features  of  the  charter  of 
Louis  XVIII. ;  but,  by  its  strange  title,  justly  con- 
demned by  public  opinion,  it  had  the  appearance 
of  placing  liberty  in  the  train  of  despotism.  Napo- 
leon submitted  it  for  the  acceptance  of  the  people, 
and  it  was  approved  of  by  a  million  of  Frenchmen, 
while  four  thousand  had  the  courage  to  protest 
against  it.  Bonaparte  took  the  oath  to  this  new 
constitution,  in  the  solemn  assembly  of  the  Champ 
de  Mai,  where  the  eagles  were  distributed  amongst 
the  regiments,  and  where  he,  himself,  appeared  sur- 
rounded by  all  the  ceremonial  of  the  empire.  The 
elections,  which  were  almost  entirely  in  the  patriot 
interest,  were,  by  this  time,  known ;  and  the  cham- 
ber of  representatives  assembled,  on  the  3d  of  June, 


180  WAR    WITH    ALL    EUROPE. 

under  auspices  little  promising  for  the  emperor. 
Here,  La  Fayette  reappeared  on  the  political  stage, 
after  twenty  years  of  honourable  retreat.  The 
votes  for  the  presidency  were  divided  betwixt  him 
and  Lanjuinais  ;  but  the  latter,  who  was  the  orator 
most  hostile  to  the  imperial  government,  obtained 
it.  Military  measures  absorbed,  now,  all  the 
thoughts  of  Napoleon.  The  nation  was  delivered 
from  civil  war;  the  due  d'Angouleme,  after  some 
temporary  successes,  had  capitulated ;  and  being, 
subsequently,  taken  prisoner  by  some  peasants,  was 
set  at  liberty  by  the  emperor's  order,  and  quitted 
France.  La  Vendee,  itself,  kept  in  check  by  the 
energetic  and  conciliatory  measures  of  general  La- 
marque,  laid  down  the  sword.  But  Europe  was 
advancing  in  arms.  The  English,  under  Welling- 
ton, and  the  Prussians,  under  Blucher,  occupied 
Belgium.  The  German  universities  were  animated 
against  Bonaparte  by  a  frenzied  enthusiasm  for 
liberty ;  and,  at  their  voice,  all  Germany  arose, — 
whilst,  in  the  background,  the  Russian  columns  and 
the  hordes  of  Tartary  were,  already,  in  motion. 

The  geniuo  of  Napoleon,  once  more,  raised,  in  a 
few  days,  a  formidable  army,  from  the  soil  of 
France.  He  reckoned  three  hundred  thousand 
fighting  men ;  of  which  number  one  hundred  and 
ten  thousand  were  directed  against  Belgium.  On 
the  12th  of  June  he,  himself,  set  out  for  the  army, 
with  the  design  of  fighting  Wellington  and  Blucher, 
— each  of  whom  had  ninety  thousand  men  under 


BATTLE    OF    WATERLOO.  181 

uis  command.  His  hope  was  to  engage,  and  over- 
throw, them  separately,  and  then  to  make  head 
against  Austria  and  Russia.  On  the  16th  a  bloody 
battle  was  fought  round  the  village  of  Ligny,  on  the 
plain  of  Fleurus;  where  the  Prussians  were  defeated 
and  lost  twenty-two  thousand  men.  The  victor 
then  advanced,  with  only  seventy  thousand  soldiers, 
to  meet  the  English,  Dutch,  and  Hanoverian  forces, 
— and  came  up  with  them  at  Waterloo.  Grouchy, 
at  the  head  of  thirty- three  thousand  men,  had  orders 
to  keep  back  the  beaten  troops  of  Blucher,  and  pre- 
vent their  junction  with  the  army  of  Wellington. 
The  fight  began,  on  the  18th  of  June,  at  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning ;  and  the  destinies  of  the 
world  were  staked  upon  that  battle-field.  For 
several  hours,  the  French  maintained  the  advan- 
tage, and  already  the  enemy  had  thoughts  of  re- 
treating. About  six  o'clock,  Napoleon  ordered  a 
formidable  charge,  and  the  English  began  to  give 
way.  The  arrival  of  Grouchy  or  of  Blucher,  how- 
ever, it  was  evident,  must  decide  the  victory.  Sud- 
denly, a  numerous  body  of  men  were  seen  in  the 
distance,  on  the  right  flank  of  the  French  army. 
On  both  sides,  anxiety  was,  for  a  moment,  at  its 
height ;  but  the  confidence  of  Wellington  was  soon 
restored,  and  his  victory  assured, — for  he  had 
recognised  the  Prussians.  Blucher  had  evaded 
Grouchy,  and  the  struggle  was  decided.  The  rout 
of  the  French  army  was  complete,  and  the  carnage 
fearful.     Two  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  fell  into 


182  NAPOLEON    AGAIN    ABDICATES. 

the  enemy's  hands.  But  the  honour  of  France,  at 
least,  remained  unsullied,  on  that  dreadful  day. 
Summoned  to  lay  down  their  arms,  some  mutilated 
battalions  of  the  old  guard  replied  by  this  heroic 
cry: — 'The  guard  can  die,  but  not  surrender!' 
Bewildered  and  distracted,  in  the  midst  of  this 
irremediable  disaster,  Napoleon  presented  his  breast 
to  the  bullets  which  flew  around, — but  could  not 
die.  For  the  second  time,  death  seemed  to  shun 
him.  Then,  at  length,  despairing  of  his  fortune,  he 
abandoned  the  wreck  of  his  army,  and  returned  to 
Paris,  to  announce,  in  person,  that  all  was  lost. 

The  aspect  of  the  representatives,  already  but 
ill-disposed  towards  him,  was  gloomy  and  threaten- 
ing. La  Fayette  arose,  and  spoke  with  severity. 
On  his  proposal,  it  was  resolved  that  any  attempt 
to  dissolve  the  chamber  should  be  punished  as  high 
treason.  Napoleon  saw  that  his  own  friends  were 
smitten  with  consternation  ;  the  populace  of  the 
faubourgs,  alone,  still  greeted  him  with  the  cry  of 
Vive  Pempereur  !  mixed,  however,  with  savage  cla 
mours.  He  could  not  resolve  to  throw  himself 
upon  them  for  support,  and  let  them  loose  against 
the  representatives  of  the  nation.  He  prudently 
resisted  the  entreaties  of  his  brother  Lucien,  who 
exhorted  him  to  attempt  another  18th  Brumaire ; 
and  signed  a  second  abdication,  in  favour  of  his 
son.  This  act  the  chambers  accepted ;  and,  without 
pronouncing  positively  in  favour  of  Napoleon  II., 
formed  a  government,  composed  of  the  ministers 


NAPOLEON  SURRENDERS  TO  THE  ENGLISH.   183 

Carnot  and  Fouche,  duke  of  Otranto,  the  generals 
Caulaincourt  and  Grenier,  and  Quinette,  formerly 
a  member  of  the  convention.  Fouche,  suspected 
of  having  betrayed  the  emperor,  was  appointed 
president  of  this  provisional  government. 

Napoleon  quitted  Paris ;  and  from  Malmaison, 
whither  he  retired,  he  turned  his  eyes  towards 
America.  Behind  him,  innumerable  enemies  were 
pouring  into  France ;  the  roads  to  Paris  were  open, 
and  the  English  and  Prussians  were  rapidly  approach- 
ing by  them.  One  hundred  and  sixty  thousand 
French  soldiers  might,  still,  in  a  few  days,  be  as- 
sembled beneath  the  walls  of  the  capital,  and  cut 
off  their  retreat.  Napoleon  traced  in  his  mind,  and 
on  the  map,  the  imprudent  march  of  his  enemies ; 
and,  once  more,  his  warlike  genius  awoke.  He 
wrote  to  the  provisional  government  that  he  had 
formed  an  infallible  plan  for  their  destruction,  and 
demanded  permission  to  fight  them  but  as  a  simple 
general.  His  offer  was  insultingly  rejected  by 
Fouche.  The  emperor  then  resigned  himself  to 
abandon  France;  and  directed  his  steps  towards 
Rochefort,  under  the  protection  of  general  Becker. 
But  the  English  cruisers  were  hovering  about  the 
port ;  and,  deluded  by  a  strange  infatuation,  Napo- 
leon flattered  himself  that  an  act  of  noble  confidence, 
on  his  part,  might  triumph  over  the  imperious  de- 
mands of  a  necessary  policy.  He  presented  him- 
self, with  his  suite,  on  board  the  English  ship,  Bel- 
lerophon:    from  whence   he   wrote   to  the   prince 


184  NAPOLEON    IS    SENT    TO    ST.  HELENA. 

regent,  demanding  permission  to  sit  down,  like 
another  Themistocles,  by  the  British  hearth,  and 
claim  the  protection  of  the  British  laws.  The  reply 
to  this  letter  was  an  order  to  convey  the  illustrious 
suppliant  to  Saint  Helena ;  and,  almost  immediately 
afterwards,  he  sailed — for  the  world's  repose — to- 
wards the  rock  which  was  destined  to  be  his  retreat, 
his  prison,  and  his  tomb.  Thus  did  this  wonderful 
man  disappear,  for  the  second  time,  and  for  ever, 
from  the  political  horizon ;  leaving  behind  him  an 
immense  void,  within  whose  arena  struggled  those 
passions,  whose  shock  sent  frightful  oscillations  afar 
throughout  Europe : — like  some  huge  vessel,  which, 
after  having  ridden  triumphant  over  the  sea,  is  sud- 
denly engulfed  by  the  waters,  and,  as  it  sinks  into 
the  dark  abyss,  continues  long  to  agitate  the  surfaco 
of  the  foaming  waves. 


RESIDENCE    AT    ST.  HELENA. 


183 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 


CAPTIVITY    AND    DEATH    OF    NAPOLEON. 


T  is  not  our  purpose  to  fatigue  the 
reader  with  a  detail  of  the  petty 
persecutions  inflicted  on  the  unfor- 
tunate emperor,  by  the  British  min- 
istry, during  the  six  years  of  his 
dreary  imprisonment  on  the  island 
of  St.  Helena.  Every  thing  that  was  calculated 
to  wound  his  feelings,  irritate  his  sensibility,  and 
wear  out  his  health,  was  resorted  to.  The  attend- 
ants most  agreeable  to  him  were  removed.  He  was 
watched  by  coarse  spies.  His  favourite  physician 
was  ordered  to  leave  the  island ;  and,  to  crown  the 
whole,  a  petty,  vulgar,  cruel,  and  malignant  wretch, 
named  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  was  placed  over  him  in 
the  character  of  gaoler,  who  rendered  himself  so 
utterly  odious  to  Napoleon,  that  on  one  occasion 
he  threw  away  a  cup  of  coffee,  declaring  that  the 
looks  of  the  governor  had  poisoned  it. 

At  length  the  purpose  of  the  British  government 
was  accomplished. 


186  DEATH    OF    NAPOLEON. 

The  great  captain,  who  had  been  victor  in  fifty* 
two  pitched  battles,  and  disposed,  at  his  pleasure, 
of  the  sceptres  of  the  world,  died,  on  the  5th  of 
May,  1821,  at  Saint  Helena,  surrounded  by  a  few 
faithful  friends, — carried  off,  after  some  months  of 
a  lingering  and  painful  disease,  and  a  captivity  of 
six  years.  Napoleon  perished  of  a  disease  of  the 
liver,  the  progress  of  which  was  accelerated  by  the 
influence  of  an  unwholesome  climate,  the  severity 
of  his  gaoler,  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  the  governor  of  the 
island,  and,  more  than  all,  by  the  fever  of  an  imagi- 
nation, whose  activity  had  no  longer  any  other  food 
than  poignant  regrets,  after  having,  long,  had  the 
whole  world  for  its  sphere  of  operations.  The 
stern  historian  is  compelled  to  say  that,  in  that 
vast  sphere  of  which  he  had  made  himself  the 
centre,  his  egotism  employed  all  things  with  a 
reference  to  himself.  Napoleon  held  human  nature 
in  contempt ;  men  were  in  his  eyes  no  more  than 
ciphers,  whose  value  was  represented  by  the  ser- 
vices that  he  could  extract  out  of  them.  He  loved 
war,  as  a  professed  gambler  loves  the  game  in 
which  his  skill  is  pre-eminent.  Like  the  gambler, 
too,  he  risked,  every  day,  the  gains  of  yesterday, 
and  had  himself  to  reproach  for  almost  all  his  dis- 
asters. The  restoration  of  order  in  France,  and 
many  useful  creations  of  his  genius,  constitute  his 
true  titles  to  glory ;  but  the  comparison  of  the  good 
which  he  did  with  that  which  he  might  have  done, 
had  he  been  governed  by  none  but  moral  and  pa- 


CHARACTER  OF  NAPOLEON-  187 

triotic  views,  must  ever  weigh  upon  his  memory  as 
a  subject  of  heavy  reproach.  His  insatiable  ambi- 
tion twice  laid  his  country  open  to  the  invasion  of 
foreign  arms ;  and  the  calamities  by  which  those 
invasions  have  been  followed,  and  the  blood  of  two 
millions  of  men,  shed  in  innumerable  combats  dur- 
ing his  reign,  have  taught  France  how  heavy  a 
price  the  glory  of  a  conqueror  costs.  Let  us, 
however,  hope  that  she  may  not  have  suffered  so 
deeply,  without  some  future  benefit  being  derived 
to  humanity  therefrom.  Napoleon,  in  the  course 
of  his  triumphant  march  throughout  the  nations  of 
Europe,  at  the  head  of  kings  and  princes  and  pow- 
erful chiefs,  all  sprung  from  the  ranks  of  the  people, 
scattered,  wherever  he  passed,  certain  notions  on 
equality  of  rights,  which  have  become,  in  our  day, 
the  basis  of  political  freedom  ;  and,  in  his  double 
catastrophe,  by  twice  drawing  into  France  the 
armies  of  combined  Europe,  he  introduced  the  most 
distant  nations  to  a  higher  civilization,  which  will, 
hereafter,  no  doubt,  establish  new  links  of  connexion 
between  them  and  his  countrymen,  and  be  the  re- 
mote means  of  effecting  a  greater  harmony  between 
their  social  institutions  and  our  own.  Such  was 
the  spell  of  this  marvellous  man,  that,  at  the  dis- 
tance of  eighteen  hundred  leagues  from  Europe,  he 
still  filled  it  with  the  echoes  of  his  name.  His 
great  image  loomed  afar,  from  his  solitary  rock  in 
the  ocean,  a  perpetual  object  of  terror  to  some,  and 
of  hope  to  others.  His  death  hurried  some  of  these 
19* 


188      REMOVAL  OF  NAPOLEON'S  REMAINS. 

latter  into  rash  and  desperate  enterprises, — whilst, 
in  delivering  their  adversaries  from  a  salutaiy  fear, 
it  left  them  at  liberty  to  abandon  themselves,  with 
less  of  prudence  and  reserve,  to  their  reactionary 
and  disastrous  inclinations. 

In  the  autumn  of  1840,  the  remains  of  Napoleon 
were  removed  from  St.  Helena,  and  carried  to 
France  in  the  frigate  Belle  Poule,  under  the  com- 
mand of  the  Prince  de  Joinville.  In  December  of 
the  same  year,  a  grand  funeral  procession  accom- 
panied the  remains  of  the  emperor  with  magnificent 
pomp,  and  great  enthusiasm,  to  the  Church  of  the 
Invalids,  where  they  were  deposited  in  their  last 
res^ng-place. 


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